verbose option must "be spelled precisely `--verbose'
I interpret this as meaning "--verbose" must be accepted, not that
abbreviations like --verb must be rejected. (That would be bizarre.)
Perhaps it is time to ask for an update to the GNU coding
standards on option abbreviations?
I confess I don't see a need to change the standards.
In practice, most GNU (C) programs use getopt_long[_only], and that
allows unambiguous abbreviations, as you say. Whether every program
(ie, script) has to go to the trouble of allowing them, I am somewhat
doubtful. It's a pain to do and increases the maintenance burden.
Also, although abbreviations are fine for interactive use, they wouldn't
be a good thing to recommend using in scripts or anywhere
semi-permanent, since a new version may come along which makes an
abbreviation ambiguous.
In the case of gnulib-tool, since some abbreviations are accepted, --sym
might as well be too, IMHO -- even though it is an ambiguous
abbreviation :).
Regards,
Karl
_______________________________________________
bug-gnulib mailing list
[email protected]
http://lists.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/bug-gnulib
