undefined | Better HN

0 pointsninjin3y ago0 comments

Thank you! I was not aware of ibara’s port of OpenBSD’s m4, so now I can drop my own ugly 15-minute hack. Is there a good source for finding strict POSIX tools rather than just go digging?

Sad sidenote on m4, that even with strict POSIX [1], you still have no clue if `define` will turn into “” or “define” due to a split between AT&T on one hand and GNU and BSD (all of them?) on the other that POSIX did not rule one way or the other. It gets even worse when you realise that some m4 implementations have “constants” like `windows` so that “Stained glass windows” can turn into “Stained glass 0”. But I guess this can be expected when you are dealing with a tool that has evolved in multiple directions since 1977?

[1]: https://pubs.opengroup.org/onlinepubs/9699919799/utilities/m...

0 comments

zxwrt3y ago

> Is there a good source for finding strict POSIX tools rather than just go digging?

Some communities(iglunix, kisslinux, carbs linux, wyvertux, oasis linux, ...) are actively researching alternatives to the "standard" coreutils. You could check what they use, perhaps you'll find something interesting and strict. But general source is digging of course :)

> But I guess this can be expected when you are dealing with a tool that has evolved in multiple directions since 1977?

Exactly. 100% conformance isn't always possible, especially when standard is unclear on some things.

eddieh3y ago

I didn't know about these projects; GNU-less Linux is something I've wanted for a long time. Thanks. Are there any other projects you know of (as indicated by your ellipsis)?

kevin_thibedeau3y ago

Solaris had all the POSIX userland tools separated from the Sun mainline versions in the /usr/xpg4 and xpg6 directories. They can be a source for replacements.

yjftsjthsd-h3y ago

Do those work on anything that isn't Solaris/Illumos?

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse