How to handle whitespace in filenames ???

["Michael D. Schleif" <mds@helices.org>]

More and more, *nix developers are following the dark path of using
whitespace in directory and filenames -- something which I've always
detested, from an sa standpoint ;<

For example, on my upgraded potato box I may want to do something this
simple:

	grep pump `find /etc/ -type f`

Normally, this is a quick and effective search and I am satisfied and
can get on with other business.

However, now we have abominations, like these:

/etc/X11/afterstep/hookdir/Debian/Apps/Net/Netscape/Communicator(static
4.77) Browser
/etc/X11/afterstep/hookdir/Debian/WindowManagers/Window Maker
/etc/kde2/colors/40 Colors

Even this, obviously, is *not* an answer:

	grep pump `find /etc/ -type f |\
		sed 's! !\\ !g; s!^!"!; s!$!"!'`

How do others handle this?

What do you think?

-- 

Best Regards,

mds
mds resource
888.250.3987

Dare to fix things before they break . . .

Our capacity for understanding is inversely proportional to how much we
think we know.  The more I know, the more I know I don't know . . .