Re: [9fans] mishandling empty lists - let's fix it

["Brian L. Stuart" <blstuart@bellsouth.net>]

> > I prefer my version to your
> versions. I can see uses for them already.
> > 
> > ron
> 
> So do I, though I'm not sure I would have called the latter
> "my"
> versions.  That's not the point however.  Since I
> don't seem to
> been have sufficiently clear, I'll reword it a bit:
> 
>  There are a lot basic UNIX/p9 utilities which treat empty
> lists
>  inconsistently.  It would be nice if there were
> fewer, but you
>  can't arrange that without breaking many things.

Ultimately it comes down to a question of perspective and
aesthetics.  If you view these tools as primarily programs
that act on files listed on the command line, then you would
prefer some of the proposals for change that have been made.
If you view these tools as primarily filters to be connected
by pipes, then the command line arguments are just conveniences
so as not to type < and > as often.  Then you prefer the tools
as they have been.  Neither perspective is a bug, for each
fulfills it's requirements.

Let each code and maintain what fits their preference and
aesthetic.  If others like it, they will use if.  If they
don't they won't.

Now let's make room for a discussion on ARM ports.

BLS