-h, --help option

[anatoly techtonik]

On Tue, Jun 24, 2014 at 10:56 PM, William Ahern
<william at 25thandclement.com> wrote:
>
> That getopt_long isn't in POSIX is almost beside the point, and maybe the
> reply was just a polite way to end the discussion with an indisputable
> counter-argument. And what Python does is irrelevant to OpenSSH and its
> goals.

Well, from http://www.openssh.com/goals.html it looks like OpenSSH goals
is to be cryptic. I don't see anything about being user friendly, so
you're right. )

> However, if you want to champion getopt_long's introduction to POSIX, feel
> free.

I don't know what is getopt_long. Python uses optparse (ported to other
scripting languages) and given the choice, I'd use http://docopt.org/ - it
has MIT licensed C code generator that is probably easier to modify than
to rewrite getopt_long.

> POSIX is a still being developed, and they're still taking feature
> requests for Issue 8. I couldn't find a ticket for getopt_long at
> austingroupbugs.net. But you should inquire with someone more familiar with
> the process before opening a ticket.

I feel like shaving yaks.

Nobody else uses --help option for any program out there? Nobody finds it
convenient?

> That nobody else is speaking up speaks volumes, I think. If a long-time
> maintainer says that it's not worthwhile, then why continue arguing after
> all the chips are on the table? Maybe the project will change its mind down
> the road, but in the meantime you should probably accept the answer you got.

All answers are accepted regardless of status or personalities.

>>
>> StackOverflow is better and more Google friendly. =)
>
> I'm sure that the OpenSSH maintainers don't believe Stack Overflow to be a
> preferable resource to the manual page. Personally I think it's a poor habit
> to consult such a forum before consulting the documentation. Stack Overflow
> is rife with cargo culting.

Every generation has its own way of communication. I believe those who
prefer mailing lists will use 'man ssh' and those who use SO, use '--help',
so I am just expressing interests of likeminded group of people. How large
is this group? Well, I don't know. But at least SO provides some stats
about common problems:
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/tagged/ssh?sort=votes&pageSize=15

> That said, if you care to visit Usenet I believe there are some people who
> work on POSIX who read comp.unix.programmer. They may also post on Stack
> Overflow for all I know, but comp.unix.programmer is a more reliable and
> trustworthy forum with more in-depth discussions. In 10 years I expect Stack
> Overflow to be effectively gone, replaced by some other website, but
> comp.unix.programmer to still be active.

Do you mean this Google Group? I am not sure why it should be better than SO.
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/comp.unix.programmer

-- 
anatoly t.