Re: XOFF (C-s) on ptys works by default

[Marc SCHAEFER <schaefer@alphanet.ch>]

Dear contributor,

On Tue, Nov 05, 2024 at 06:42:07PM +0100, Nicolas George wrote:
> I suggest you try compiling projects more complex than Hello World.

It is always a sliding slope to assume things about people
you interact with on mailing-lists.

When I do compile complex projects, I usually start the compilation
process under screen, and I record everything using C-a H. You
might prefer termux, but well, I think I started using screen around
1990, kind of a bad habit. That's probably about when I stopped
using C-s (?).

Or even sometimes I just use script -- or even asciinema (great to
show commands to others).

I find the logging approach handier to:

   - spawn another terminal

   - look calmly at what happened

   - take any necessary measures, fixes and documentation
     (having a NOTES file on a third screen terminal is
      something I often do)

It's also handy to investigate closely when, indeed, the scrolling was
too quick and you just saw something strange (a warning e.g.) -- in the
blink of an eye.

Or, I also use the C-z approach that someone else suggested
when I forgot to start screen and it's too complicated to
start a new SSH connection (2FA, etc).

However, you may prefer C-s, that's your option :)

To conclude with this thread (at least on my part):

In any case, if this is necessary, I concur with your affirmation
that when people get a stuck terminal, they should use a
search engine and get enlightened. That would be the best way:
learn something new, as you said!

Unfortunately, in my recent experience -- this is why I asked the
question in the first place -- I stumbled on a few cases where people
had the issue and did not search that answer themselves -- or maybe
formulated it badly, I did not investigate.  They simply closed the
xterm or mate-terminal window without thinking, and they told me
something like "oh, that unreliable Linux terminal is stuck again".

However, as you explainted it to me in your previous message, I
understand now that changing a global default might not be the road to
be taken, especially since the consequence, if people do not try to find
why it happens, would be a closed window.

I will try harder to convince people to RTFMs (or at least search for
an answer on a search engine).

Have a nice day.