Bug#621121: bash: Test text equivalency and parameter expansion fails - example included

["Dean Allen Provins, P. Geoph." <provinsd@telusplanet.net>]

Jonathan:

On Wed, Apr 06, 2011 at 01:00:42PM -0500, Jonathan Nieder wrote:
> reassign 621121 release-notes
> tags 621121 + squeeze
> quit

-----snip---

> > #!/bin/sh
> 
> Please run
> 
>  # dpkg-reconfigure dash
> 
> and set bash as the system shell, and your scripts will work again.
> Generally speaking, scripts with a /bin/sh shebang meant for wide use
> should only use POSIX features[1] and the way to declare use of bash
> features is "#!/bin/bash"; but in-house scripts using bash features
> are definitely worth supporting without that change, and the above is
> how.
> 
> Before squeeze you probably didn't run into problems because bash was
> the default system shell.  Do you have any ideas about how we can make
> this changed default more visible?  (It was documented in dash's
> NEWS.Debian.gz but perhaps that is not visible enough.)

Thanks for the very prompt reply.

Frankly, I was unaware that "dash" existed.  I've been using "bash"
or "sh" for a very long time (circa 1991 with Linux and about 1985
with UNIX).  Obviously, I should be more observant.

I've taken your advice and rerun the shell configuration (see above).

As far as making this changed default more visible, I'm not entirely sure
what should be done.  I suspect that most Debian/Linux (and Debian-related
distributions) users are less likely to be command line users like myself.
It seems that if a mouse isn't involved, then it doesn't get run.

There is a slim chance that command line users might notice a message
indicating what shell was being employed when invoking a login shell.
Highlighting it in red might help, but after a few invocations,
I suspect that it would remain permanently unread.  Still, adding a
suitably formatted line to the default version of .bash_profile (and/or
dash equivalent) might be useful in this regard.

I regret that I have no other ideas.

Thanks again for your assistance.

Dean

PS:  I've CC'd this reply to 621121@bugs.debian.org.  I hope that
was correct procedure.

-- 
			   Dean Provins, P. Geoph.
		         dprovins@alumni.ucalgary.ca
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