Your message dated Mon, 9 Feb 2026 09:20:55 +0100
with message-id <[email protected]>
and subject line Re: Bug#1127408: pstree incorrectly displays and duplicates
arguments for sh -c commands
has caused the Debian Bug report #1127408,
regarding pstree incorrectly displays and duplicates arguments for sh -c
commands
to be marked as done.
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1127408: https://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=1127408
Debian Bug Tracking System
Contact [email protected] with problems
--- Begin Message ---
Package: psmisc
Version: 23.7-2
Severity: minor
File: /usr/bin/pstree
Thanks for providing pstree. I use it almost daily instead of having to
remember the proper options for ps.
When using pstree -apl, shell commands invoked via sh -c have their
arguments displayed incorrectly - they appear duplicated. Parenthetical
formatting would help to distinguish them from process names.
This makes legitimate process trees appear broken and causes users to
troubleshoot non-existent configuration issues.
Steps to Reproduce:
Start a process that uses sh -c to invoke a command with arguments, such
as:
$ git log --max-count=1
(Git uses sh -c to invoke the pager)
Keep the pager open. Run pstree -apl in a different window and search
for the git log process
The sh -c invocation should display arguments like this (suggested
formatting):
|-bash,223670
| `-git,229284 log --max-count=1
| `-sh,229285 -c less -F -R -X
| `-less,229286 -F -R -X
If the process replaces its name, parenthesis could/should be used.
Actual Output:
|-bash,223670
| `-git,229284 log --max-count=1
| `-sh,229285 -c less -F -R -X less -F -R -X
| `-less,229286 -F -R -X
The command string less -F -R -X appears twice on the sh line
This creates confusion. It looks like something is misconfigured when
it's actually normal
Running `ps` on the `less` process confirms only one instance exists
with correct arguments:
$ ps 229286
PID TTY STAT TIME COMMAND
229286 pts/10 S+ 0:00 less -F -R -X
-- System Information:
Debian Release: forky/sid
APT prefers stable-updates
APT policy: (500, 'stable-updates'), (500, 'stable-security'), (500,
'oldstable-security'), (500, 'unstable'), (500, 'testing'), (500, 'stable'),
(500, 'oldstable')
Architecture: amd64 (x86_64)
Foreign Architectures: i386
Kernel: Linux 6.18.8+deb14-amd64 (SMP w/12 CPU threads; PREEMPT)
Locale: LANG=de_DE.UTF-8, LC_CTYPE=de_DE.UTF-8 (charmap=UTF-8), LANGUAGE=en
Shell: /bin/sh linked to /usr/bin/dash
Init: systemd (via /run/systemd/system)
LSM: AppArmor: enabled
Versions of packages psmisc depends on:
ii libc6 2.42-11+b1
ii libtinfo6 6.6+20251231-1
psmisc recommends no packages.
psmisc suggests no packages.
-- no debconf information
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
On Mon, Feb 09, 2026 at 08:24:28AM +1100, Craig Small wrote:
The duplicates are what the kernel is reporting, the ^@ is nul which
separates command line options.
$ cat -e /proc/7393/cmdline
/bin/sh^@-c^@less -A -F -X^@less -A -F -X^@
So yes, I totally agree it looks strange, but the strangeness is actually
there!
I concur with that assessment, and it is actually git doubling this:
execve("/bin/sh", ["/bin/sh", "-c", "less +R +F -X", "less +R +F -X"]
Wondering whether that's a bug in git.
Greetings
Marc
--
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Marc Haber | "I don't trust Computers. They | Mailadresse im Header
Leimen, Germany | lose things." Winona Ryder | Fon: *49 6224 1600402
Nordisch by Nature | How to make an American Quilt | Fax: *49 6224 1600421
--- End Message ---
