Re: [Bug-ed] Trailing spaces in filenames

[Antonio Diaz Diaz]

John Cowan wrote:
> > It will be even saner when the authors of rlfe fix this minor bug in
> > their code. :-)
>
> Not a bug, but working-as-designed, so that you can type the first letters
> of the next argument after doing filename completion.

You are confusing two things here. Adding a space after doing filename 
completion so that you can type the next argument is fine. What is a 
fatal error is to pass such trailing space to the application. It is 
rlfe the one that should be stripping the trailing space, as the shell 
does, not ed.


> The issue isn't the beginning, it's the end.  All ed-like editors (including
> ex modes of vi-like editors) strip spaces from the end of filename arguments,
> as does the shell, unless they are explicitly escaped.

Not only that. I have just tried the ex mode of vim, and inner spaces 
also need to be escaped or it gives the error "Only one file name 
allowed". I think this behaviour is plain stupid for an editor. Taking 
the file name as given is the easiest, safest, and less arbitrary thing 
to do. It is also what full screen editors (CLI or GUI) do, and what GNU 
ed has done for 20 years.

IMO, it would be more consistent for all users if ex and vi began 
treating file names like editors do, instead of like shells do.


Best regards,
Antonio.