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Re: [RFC][PATCH] Print the usage string on stdout instead of stderr.

From
Miles Bader <miles@gnu.org>
Date
May 17, 2010, 12:07 UTC
Message-ID
<buofx1qhgum.fsf@dhlpc061.dev.necel.com>
In-Reply-To
<4BF12C96.9030802@drmicha.warpmail.net>
Michael J Gruber <git@drmicha.warpmail.net> writes:
> Now, usage messages are displayed on specific request (-h) as well as
> when a command is used with wrong arguments. So the classification
> depends on the use case! But I reckon that even with '-h', usage strings
> are not exactly "regular output", so stderr looks more natural to me.

Usage info specifically requested by the user is not error output, it is the output of the command. It should be output to stdout, not stderr.

[Note that for GNU progs, this behavior is explicitly required by the GNU coding standards, and I think it's a pretty reasonable rule.]

-miles
-- 
o The existentialist, not having a pillow, goes everywhere with the book by
  Sullivan, _I am going to spit on your graves_.
Previous: Michael J GruberNext: Michael J Gruber
Message 3 of 14 in “Print the usage string on stdout instead of stderr.”
  1. Giuseppe ScrivanoMay 17, 2010
  2. Michael J GruberMay 17, 2010
  3. Miles BaderMay 17, 2010
  4. Michael J GruberMay 17, 2010
  5. Miles BaderMay 17, 2010
  6. Giuseppe ScrivanoMay 17, 2010
  7. Tay Ray ChuanMay 17, 2010
  8. Giuseppe ScrivanoMay 17, 2010
  9. Michael J GruberMay 17, 2010
  10. Giuseppe ScrivanoMay 17, 2010
  11. Michael J GruberMay 18, 2010
  12. Giuseppe ScrivanoMay 24, 2010
  13. Michael J GruberMay 25, 2010
  14. Print the usage string on stdout instead of stderr.Giuseppe Scrivano, May 25, 2010

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