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From: chris@mimsy.UUCP (Chris Torek)
Newsgroups: comp.unix.wizards
Subject: Re: multiple names for files
Message-ID: <9675@mimsy.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 8-Dec-87 04:40:19 EST
Article-I.D.: mimsy.9675
Posted: Tue Dec  8 04:40:19 1987
Date-Received: Sun, 13-Dec-87 09:36:06 EST
References: <9636@mimsy.UUCP> <142700017@occrsh.ATT.COM>
Organization: U of Maryland, Dept. of Computer Science, Coll. Pk., MD 20742
Lines: 24

In article <142700017@occrsh.ATT.COM> rjd@occrsh.ATT.COM writes:
[regarding me and someone else blathering on about `rm ./-b']
>... one easy way to remove a filname beginning with a '-' is to take
>advantage of the "getopt" processing of rm

(Who says it uses getopt?!  In fact, the 4BSD rm does not.)

>and make the "-" started file the second in a list of files to remove.

I already sent a response via mail, but decided that I just could
not let this go.  (Sorry...)  Yes, `rm nonexistentfile -b' works.
That is not the point.  Knowing this is like knowing that 0*x = 0
and 1*x = x: useful, but if you know *how to multiply*, you know
so much more.  `./-b' is a fully general way to name the file `-b'
without starting it with the dreaded hyphen.  ./-b ALWAYS WORKS,
just as a proper multiplication algorithm computes x from 1*x.

As long as they are not unweildy, general solutions should be
preferred over specific solutions.  That is what Unix is all about!

We now return you to your usual netnews. . . .
-- 
In-Real-Life: Chris Torek, Univ of MD Comp Sci Dept (+1 301 454 7690)
Domain:	chris@mimsy.umd.edu	Path:	uunet!mimsy!chris