Re: [PATCH] printf: add %#s alias to %b

[Oğuz]

On Wed, Sep 6, 2023 at 9:38 AM Robert Elz <kre@munnari.oz.au> wrote:
> Adding a different %b to printf(1) wasn't currently even proposed, just
> deprecating the current one so it wouldn't conflict with the usage of
> %b in printf(3) (which is being defined in C23, and is apparently already
> firmly entrenched, even though C23 is not yet (quite) formally released).
>
> There was no proposal (yet) to provide a replacement for %b (which would
> not actually be deprecated, if it were to be, for ages yet) - though the
> %#s idea was proposed, and implemented in a couple of places (incl bash
> I believe) - technically according to the rules, it would be too late now
> to even mention that in the upcoming POSIX version, though there was some
> talk of bending that rule, so a hint could be provided to applications as
> to how they might move away from %b (the existing proposal is nonsense).
>
> My guess is that none of this will happen now, and %b, or possible alternates,
> won't get any special mention in the forthcoming POSIX standard - so %b
> in printf(1) would remain just like it is now for several decades at least.
> (%b will appear in POSIX printf(3) in the next version after this one,
> when POSIX aligns itself with C23 (or later) which contains that - C23 is
> too late to be considered for the forthcoming POSIX version, and C17 does not
> contain %b in its printf function).

Thanks. This entire discussion is nonsense; a proposal to deprecate a
useful feature appears out of the blue, patches are sent, alternatives
are listed, a whole fuss is made. Yet the only argument supporting
said deprecation is maintaining consistency with C23. Why is it
important to do that? No answer. It's nonsense.

I don't think bash should deprecate %b. If a built-in way to convert
to/from bases other than 8 and 16 is desired, bash can do it like ksh
does or invent a new way. But breaking backwards compatibility so that
you can say "well, at least my shell is consistent with C23" would be
plain idiocy.

>
> kre
>
>