> Actually, it's more like > > while stdin not empty: > args_list = [] > while arg_list < maximum length: > push a line from stdin into arg_list > invoke program with arg_list > Ah, thanks for clearing few things! :-) Is this why xargs is more efficient? This thing pointed out the difference: $ ls | xargs echo vs. $ ls | perl -lane 'print $F[0]' :-) For others who might be reading this, find also has a similar option. >From it's manpage: -exec utility [argument ...] {} + Same as -exec, except that ``{}'' is replaced with as many pathnames as possible for each invocation of utility. This behaviour is similar to that of xargs(1). -- Vimal -- To unsubscribe from this list: send an email with "unsubscribe kernelnewbies" to ecartis@xxxxxxxxxxxx Please read the FAQ at http://kernelnewbies.org/FAQ