On Thu, Apr 17, 2003 at 12:44:57AM +0200, Kjetil Torgrim Homme wrote:
[Ned Freed]:
Folks, I think we have reached a point where a revised I-D for the
variables document is in order. I'm starting to lose track of
where we are on some of these changes...
I fully agree, but I'd like some feedback on a very important issue
first, the syntax vs. semantics issue.
semantics seems the easier bolt-on, but syntax is the smoothest change
IMO. in particular, the backslash handling feels more natural.
consider "\${foo}". if we change syntax, the backslash will quote the
dollar so that it isn't a variable reference. if we change semantics
of strings, the backslash has no effect.
The gut reaction of a shell programmer will probably differ,
but I'd rather not change the syntax. To me, string scanning
and variable extension are different stages and must not
affect each other.
If you do change the syntax, where do you stop? Why should
\ be special for variable syntax, but not for :regex and
:matches pattern syntax? I don't want to have to answer that.
Jutta