[Bug: Busybox 1.22.1] false return 0 instead of 1 with '--help' switch.

Ralf Friedl Ralf.Friedl at online.de
Fri Sep 5 16:26:51 UTC 2014


Xabier Oneca -- xOneca wrote:
> Hello again,
>
> 2014-09-05 18:19 GMT+02:00 Xabier Oneca  --  xOneca <xoneca at gmail.com>:
>> Hello list,
>>
>> I want to highlight what GNU coreutils' help docs (info coreutils
>> 'false invocation') says about false when invoked with --help:
>>
>>> Note that `false' (unlike all other programs documented herein)
>> exits unsuccessfully, even when invoked with `--help' or `--version'.
>>
>> I think Busybox should do the same with the applet.
> And I want to add that --help will only be used ever in an interactive
> shell by a person, so the return value may be dispensable. (i.e.
> doesn't mind to the user how does --help return as soon as the help
> text is printed in screen)
Actually this is the argument to leave it as it is, because nobody cares 
about the return value of "false --help".

It might be nice if "false --help" would return false, but it would add 
extra code to busybox for no real benefit.


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