Re: bash vs dash

2008-08-04 Thread Jiafu Gao
Thanks for the those who offered helps. I found the following link that is very 
helpful:
   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_computer_shells
Note that there is only ash, not dash in the list. Since dash comes from ash, I 
assume the features for them are the same.

I really like the lightweightness of dash on PS3. However, I missed these 
features in bash (in order of importance):
  1) command line editing
  2) tab completion
  3) command history
  4) customized prompt

If we can get these features add to dash with minimal impact on its 
compactness, I will be a happy dash user, and I believe more users will be less 
dash-resistance.

As for 1), this is from the manual page:
   -V vi' Enable the built-in vi(1) command line editor (disables -E if it has 
been set). 
I am not sure it means for command line editing. Anyway, I could not get it 
work.

As for 4), dash actually has some limited support in the form of env variable 
PS1. I've written a small program (bashps - bash style prompt string) to make 
it possible to use bash style prompt (such as '[EMAIL PROTECTED]:\w\$ ') in 
dash without any change to dash itself. Just run the following command:
   export PS1 = $(bashps '[EMAIL PROTECTED]:\w\$ ')

If any one has any smart idea to add 2), 3) to dash without change to dash or 
with minimal change (in term code size), I will be happy to hear.

Best regards,

Jiafu
   



- Original Message 
From: John Dong [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: Jiafu Gao [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Cc: ubuntu-motu@lists.ubuntu.com
Sent: Saturday, August 2, 2008 8:26:05 PM
Subject: Re: bash vs dash


dash is a minimal shell that is primarily meant to meet POSIX bourne shell 
standards (i.e. BSD's /bin/sh). It doesn't support autocompletion or command 
history.


On Fri, Aug 1, 2008 at 6:25 PM, Jiafu Gao [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

Hi, 

I am trying to find out the feature differenece between bash and dash. The 
internet does not help much. man dash goes to manual page for sh. Is this 
information available at all? 

Specifically, I like to know if dash support: 
  1) autocompletion (of command)
  2) command history

Thanks for any help.

Jiafu


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Re: bash vs dash

2008-08-04 Thread Reinhard Tartler
Jiafu Gao [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:

 I really like the lightweightness of dash on PS3. However, I missed these
 features in bash (in order of importance):
   1) command line editing
   2) tab completion
   3) command history
   4) customized prompt

how about installing both, and use dash for non-interactive purposes and
bash for interactive sessions? at least that's the default in ubuntu.

-- 
Gruesse/greetings,
Reinhard Tartler, KeyID 945348A4

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Re: bash vs dash

2008-08-02 Thread John Dong
dash is a minimal shell that is primarily meant to meet POSIX bourne shell
standards (i.e. BSD's /bin/sh). It doesn't support autocompletion or command
history.

On Fri, Aug 1, 2008 at 6:25 PM, Jiafu Gao [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 Hi,

 I am trying to find out the feature differenece between bash and dash. The
 internet does not help much. man dash goes to manual page for sh. Is this
 information available at all?

 Specifically, I like to know if dash support:
   1) autocompletion (of command)
   2) command history

 Thanks for any help.

 Jiafu


 --
 Ubuntu-motu mailing list
 Ubuntu-motu@lists.ubuntu.com
 Modify settings or unsubscribe at:
 https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-motu


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