Re: capitalization of error messages and option descriptions

[Ralf Wildenhues]

Hello,

* Jim Meyering wrote on Thu, Jan 27, 2011 at 05:42:09PM CET:
> Bruno Haible wrote:
> >> # Error messages should not start with a capital letter
> >
> > Why should error messages not start with a capital letter?

> I think this quote from the GCS is at the origin:

Yes, I think so too.

> -----------------------------
>      PROGRAM:SOURCE-FILE-NAME:LINENO:COLUMN: MESSAGE

IIRC the "PROGRAM" part is viewed as the beginning of the sentence,
and the not ending in a period is done so that you can combine it.

> I'm quite ambivalent about this rule, often disable it, and
> would not mind removing it altogether.

Actually, I don't care what color this bike shed has, but I really
really care that it is not a different color for each bike rack.
So please guys do us all a favor and discuss rules with bug-standards,
convince Karl/RMS of whatever way you want it, patch standards.texi,
and *stick* to that style.  I hate little more than 1000-line patch
submissions that all just change the capitalization *again*, and
cause (trivial) conflicts for a dozen unfinished branches.

Thank you,
Ralf