Multi-element zstat

Multi-element zstat

[Daniel Shahaf]

> tt(zstat )[ tt(-gnNolLtTrs) ] [ tt(-f) var(fd) ] \
>     [ tt(-H) var(hash) ] [ tt(-A) var(array) ] \
>     [ tt(-F) var(fmt) ]
>     [ tt(PLUS())var(element) ] [ var(file) ... ]
⋮
> A particular element may be selected by including its name
> preceded by a `tt(PLUS())' in the option list; only one element is allowed.
> The element may be shortened to any unique set of leading
> characters.  Otherwise, all elements will be shown for all files.

How about extending the syntax to permit specifying multiple elements,
in which case only those will be shown?  E.g., «zstat +uid:gid:mode
./foo» or «zstat +uid +gid +mode ./foo»?  The latter syntax would
necessitate an incompatible change notice in NEWS/README (because «zstat
+mode +foo» does stat("+foo"), exactly as the docstring promises).  The
output of the example invocation would be as follows (assuming -o is
also passed for sanity):
.
	mode    0100644
	uid     1000
	gid     1000

Looping over the one-element syntax isn't convenient when multiple file
targets are passed.  Ditto grepping the output.

Just looking for consensus on the direction at this point; not planning
to implement this immediately.

Cheers,

Daniel

Re: Multi-element zstat

[Phil Pennock]

On 2021-09-22 at 00:51 +0000, Daniel Shahaf wrote:
> How about extending the syntax to permit specifying multiple elements,
> in which case only those will be shown?

> Looping over the one-element syntax isn't convenient when multiple file
> targets are passed.  Ditto grepping the output.
> 
> Just looking for consensus on the direction at this point; not planning
> to implement this immediately.

No objection, but since you only list two of the approaches, have you
considered whether or not using the -H option will suit your needs?

for F in *(D.); do
  zstat -nH st -- "$F"
  print "$st[mode] $st[uid] $st[gid] $st[name]"
done

-Phil

Re: Multi-element zstat

[Daniel Shahaf]

Phil Pennock wrote on Thu, 23 Sep 2021 22:39 +00:00:
> On 2021-09-22 at 00:51 +0000, Daniel Shahaf wrote:
>> How about extending the syntax to permit specifying multiple elements,
>> in which case only those will be shown?
>
>> Looping over the one-element syntax isn't convenient when multiple file
>> targets are passed.  Ditto grepping the output.
>> 
>> Just looking for consensus on the direction at this point; not planning
>> to implement this immediately.
>
> No objection, but since you only list two of the approaches, have you
> considered whether or not using the -H option will suit your needs?
>
> for F in *(D.); do
>   zstat -nH st -- "$F"
>   print "$st[mode] $st[uid] $st[gid] $st[name]"
> done

I haven't.  Thanks.  It certainly beats both of the workarounds
I came up with.  Adding the syntactic sugar might still have value; I'll
see what I think the next time I run into this in my day-to-day uses.

Thanks again.

Daniel