From: Chet Ramey Subject: Re: RFE: Echo dots option for 'read -s' Date: Fri, 19 Dec 2025 10:12:22 -0500
>> I imagine it's fairly rare to have 'read -e -s' in existing >> code, since '- e' is /currently/ pointless when >> '-s' is in effect, so there aren't likely to be many who >> will be surprised by this, and even if they are, it's entirely >> cosmetic. >> Having 'set echo-substitution :auto' as the default would >> make it clearer to naive users that their shell isn't "stuck" when >> the terminal is in 'stty -echo' mode, though they might >> still ask questions along the lines of 'why is my shell prompt >> in 'password' mode?' >> Chet: is there any likelihood of incorporating this patch? > Doesn't this seem like incredible overkill for something that is rarely > requested and would be rarely used? It's the sort of thing that doesn't seem important to those of us who understand why it is the way it is, but, unfortunately, it does come up from time to time on the various platform support boards. You see posts from people who say things like "It locked up and I couldn't type" or "It wouldn't take my password, so I pulled the power cord", etc. Now, granted, I'm talking more about the system login process; it is hard for me to imagine how/why someone would be using bash/readline to enter passwords. I suppose it happens, but it is probably rare. But it is the sort of thing that would be nice to have implemented at the global level - i.e., if Unix could be redesigned so that whenever you are typing in "no echo" mode, it echoes back something (like "*"). But it is way too late for that, of course. So, what I am saying is that I get the argument for it, but unless it can be done globally (i.e., not just in "readline"), it will always be "too little, too late". ================================================================================= Please do not send me replies to my posts on the list. I always read the replies via the web archive, so CC'ing to me is unnecessary. When responding to my posts, please try to refrain from giving bureaucratic answers. If you have nothing useful to say, then just click Next and go on.
