On 03/13/2018 01:19 PM, Stephen Morris wrote: > On 13/3/18 9:05 am, Ed Greshko wrote: >> On 03/13/18 05:47, Ed Greshko wrote: >>> On 03/13/18 05:20, Stephen Morris wrote: >>>> Thanks Ed, I'll check the doco out, I was just expecting the command >>>> to do exactly >>>> what the help info said, output the information for all files, not >>>> just a subset. >>> It *does* do exactly what the man page says. You just have to >>> understand the >>> "context" in which it is saying it. >>> >>> Let me complete my thought. Even take the "ls" command as an example. >>> >>> [egreshko@meimei test-dir]$ ls >>> test test1 test2 >>> >>> [egreshko@meimei test-dir]$ ls -a >>> . .. test test1 test2 .test3 .test4 .test5 >>> >>> [egreshko@meimei test-dir]$ ls * >>> test test1 test2 >>> >>> [egreshko@meimei test-dir]$ shopt -s dotglob >>> >>> [egreshko@meimei test-dir]$ ls * >>> test test1 test2 .test3 .test4 .test5 >>> >> Oh, when it comes to ls, I've been gently reminded about -A >> >> [egreshko@meimei test-dir]$ ls -A >> test test1 test2 .test3 .test4 .test5 > > Thanks Ed, I knew about the differences between the -a and -A on ls, and > having had a look at the --help for ls and du again, I can see the > subtle difference between the -a parameters on both commands. It just > seems counter intuitive to me to have to issue another command (even if > one knows of its existence) to get a command to function "properly". I COULD drive a dump truck or a sedan to work every day. If I were in the construction business, the dump truck might make sense. I'm not, so I drive a sedan. Both would get me to the job, it's just which is more "appropriate" that's at issue. "ls" lists the characteristics of files, while "du" displays disk usage. While they are related, they are, none the less, different things. It's up to you, the user, to use the appropriate command for what you want. The alternative is one program that tries to do EVERYTHING. That's been tried. It's called "Windows Explorer" and we all know what an atrocity that turned out to be! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- - Rick Stevens, Systems Engineer, AllDigital ricks@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx - - AIM/Skype: therps2 ICQ: 22643734 Yahoo: origrps2 - - - - The difference between nerds and geeks? Nerds are socially inept - - and are painfully aware of that. Geeks couldn't care less. - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- _______________________________________________ users mailing list -- users@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx To unsubscribe send an email to users-leave@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
