[att.general] getopt enhancement for future UNIX System release

lat@sftig.UUCP (07/25/84)

The UNIX Systems Engineering Department at AT&T Bell Laboratories in Summit,NJ
is collecting customer input on the following issue:

getopt(1) and getopt(3c) will be enhanced for a future UNIX system release
to support the Syntax Standard for UNIX System Commands (as presented
at Comdex Nov 1983 and UniForum Jan 1984).
For getopt(1), changes to its invocation line will be necessary.
(Note that the current invocation line
     set -- `getopt legal-args $*`
will not work with the enhanced getopt(1). )

Currently 2 alternatives for releasing this change are being considered:

  1. In the first release this change is in, release only the enhanced
     getopt(1) and  provide a tool for converting
     shell program's getopt(1) invocation lines from old-style to new-style.

   or

  2. Add -n (new version) and -o (old version) options to getopt(1).
     The default for the first release this change is in will be -o,
     but -n will be available so users can begin converting.
     In the following release, -n will become the default but -o
     will still be available.
     Finally, after 2 releases, -o and -n will no longer exist and
     getopt(1) will be the enhanced version (-n version).

Please submit your input by FRIDAY JULY 27th
by UNIX mail to btlunix!!lat or phone Lisa Kennedy at 1-201-522-6153.

			Thank You.
Newsgroups: att.general,net.general
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