scroll back?

[Kerry Hoath]

Some programs like dd often run in a pipe.
It can be argued that if incorrect command-lines are given, the error
should indeed go to standard error. My feeling is that errors
should go to standard error and --help should go to standard output
since the --help option is exclusive. This is how most GNU tools behave but
it can not be relied upon.
Many programmers argue that help text for a filter should go to standard error
to prevent usage information being inadvertantly written to a pipe.
Perhapse they need their head read but there is method in the madness.

Regards, Kerry.
On Fri, Mar 29, 2002 at 09:49:55AM +1000, Geoff Shang wrote:
> On Wed, 27 Mar 2002, Toby Fisher wrote:
> 
> > uOn Wed, 27 Mar 2002, Kerry Hoath wrote:
> >
> > > To make a command show usage and page the result do this:
> > > ls --help 2>&1|less
> > > the 2>&1 redirects standard error to standard output so you can page the result
> > > through a pager.
> >
> > Hmm, have never needed the 2>&1, don't know what I'll be missing then.
> > *grin*
> 
> Some programs send their help text to standard error, rather than standard
> output.  I personally think that people who do this should have their head
> read.  At any rate, the 2>&1 is needed for these programs to send standard
> error to standard output.
> 
> Geoff.
> 
> 
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-- 
Kerry Hoath:  kerry at gotss.net kerry at gotss.eu.org or  kerry at gotss.spice.net.au
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