| This package contains a reimplementation of getopt(1). |
| |
| PREFACE |
| |
| Getopt(1) is a program to help shell scripts parse command-line parameters. |
| It is for example included in the util-linux distribution (upto version |
| 2.7.1). But, there are some problems with that getopt(1) implementation, |
| as listed in the 'BUGS' section of its man-page: |
| |
| >BUGS |
| > Whatever getopt(3) has. |
| > |
| > Arguments containing white space or imbedded shell metacharacters gener- |
| > ally will not survive intact; this looks easy to fix but isn't. |
| > |
| > The error message for an invalid option is identified as coming from |
| > getopt rather than from the shell procedure containing the invocation of |
| > getopt; this again is hard to fix. |
| > |
| > The precise best way to use the set command to set the arguments without |
| > disrupting the value(s) of shell options varies from one shell version to |
| > another. |
| |
| This implementation of getopt(1) is written to solve some of these problems, |
| while still staying (for all practical purposes) completely compatible with |
| other getopt(1) implementations. |
| |
| |
| INSTALLATION |
| |
| Installation should be very easy. Just type 'make' to compile the sources. |
| It should compile cleanly, without any warnings, but even if it does not |
| you probably don't have to worry. You must use GNU Make and gcc, or you |
| will have to edit the Makefile. |
| |
| Type 'make install' to install the binary and the manual page. It installs |
| by default in /usr/local/bin and /usr/local/man/man1, to install in /usr/bin |
| and /usr/man/man1 try 'make install prefix=/usr'. |
| |
| The example files can be installed in /usr/local/lib/getopt by calling |
| 'make install_doc'. |
| |
| If you do not trust the getopt(3) in your libc, or if you do not use a libc |
| with the GNU getopt(3) routines, you can use the gnu sources as provided |
| in the gnu directory. Try 'make LIBCGETOPT=0'. Ignore any compile warnings. |
| |
| You can check whether the new implementation of getopt is found first |
| in your path by calling 'bash test.bash'. |
| |
| |
| HIGHLIGHTS |
| |
| It can do anything that the GNU getopt(3) routines can do. |
| |
| It can cope with spaces and shell metacharacters within arguments. |
| |
| It can parse long parameters. |
| |
| It can shuffle parameters, so you can mix options and other parameters on |
| the command-line. |
| |
| It can be easily identified as an enhanced getopt(1) from within shell scripts. |
| |
| It can report parse errors as coming from the shell script. |
| |
| It is fully compatible with other getopt(1) implementations. |
| |
| COPYING |
| |
| This program comes under the GNU general public licence version 2. See the |
| file COPYING included in this package. Note that though you may freely |
| copy it, it is copyright (c) 1997-2005 by Frodo Looijaard |
| <frodo@frodo.looijaard.name>. |
| Files in the gnu directory are from glibc-2.0.4: copyright (C) 1987, 88, |
| 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97 Free Software Foundation, Inc. |
| |
| |
| DOWNLOADING |
| |
| You can find the latest version of this program at: |
| http://software.frodo.looijaard.name/getopt/ |
