Debian Bug report logs - #16051
FIXED in NMU [was: help shouldn't go to stderr]

Package: dpkg; Maintainer for dpkg is Dpkg Developers <debian-dpkg@lists.debian.org>; Source for dpkg is src:dpkg (PTS, buildd, popcon).

Reported by: Bdale Garbee <bdale@gag.com>

Date: Wed, 17 Dec 1997 17:03:02 UTC

Severity: fixed

Merged with 18574

Found in versions 1.4.0.19, 1.4.0.20

Done: unknown

Bug is archived. No further changes may be made.

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Report forwarded to debian-bugs-dist@lists.debian.org, Klee Dienes and Ian Jackson <dpkg-maint@chiark.greenend.org.uk>:
Bug#16051; Package dpkg. (full text, mbox, link).

Acknowledgement sent to Bdale Garbee <bdale@gag.com>:
New bug report received and forwarded. Copy sent to Klee Dienes and Ian Jackson <dpkg-maint@chiark.greenend.org.uk>. (full text, mbox, link).

Message #5 received at submit@bugs.debian.org (full text, mbox, reply):

Package: dpkg
Version: 1.4.0.19

It seems inappropriate for the output of 'dpkg --help' to go to stderr.  It's
not an error if I'm asking for help... stdout would be more appropriate.

Bdale

Information forwarded to debian-bugs-dist@lists.debian.org, Klee Dienes and Ian Jackson <dpkg-maint@chiark.greenend.org.uk>:
Bug#16051; Package dpkg. (full text, mbox, link).

Acknowledgement sent to Kirk Hilliard <kirk@ghoti.com>:
Extra info received and forwarded to list. Copy sent to Klee Dienes and Ian Jackson <dpkg-maint@chiark.greenend.org.uk>. (full text, mbox, link).

Message #10 received at 16051@bugs.debian.org (full text, mbox, reply):

Bdale Garbee <bdale@gag.com> wrote:
>
> Package: dpkg
> Version: 1.4.0.19
>
> It seems inappropriate for the output of 'dpkg --help' to go to stderr.  It's
> not an error if I'm asking for help... stdout would be more appropriate.

Absolutely agreed!  dpkg itself even claims that you should be able to
pipe `dpkg --help' through `less' or `more' !

[Note last line.]
------------------------------ 8< ------------------------------
$ dpkg
dpkg: need an action option

Type dpkg --help for help about installing and deinstalling packages [*];
Use dselect for user-friendly package management;
Type dpkg -Dhelp for a list of dpkg debug flag values;
Type dpkg --force-help for a list of forcing options;
Type dpkg-deb --help for help about manipulating *.deb files;
Type dpkg --licence for copyright licence and lack of warranty (GNU GPL) [*].

Options marked [*] produce a lot of output - pipe it through `less' or `more' !
$
------------------------------ >8 ------------------------------

For the record, `dpkg --help', `dpkg -Dhelp', and `dpkg --force-help'
all write to stderr, but should write to stdout (whether or not their
output is long enough to call for piping).

`dpkg-deb --help' and `dpkg --licence' behave properly, writing to
stdout.

Kirk Hilliard

Merged 16051 18574. Request was from Juan Cespedes <cespedes@debian.org> to control@bugs.debian.org. (full text, mbox, link).

Changed bug title. Request was from James Troup <james@nocrew.org> to control@bugs.debian.org. (full text, mbox, link).

Severity set to `fixed'. Request was from jdassen@wi.leidenuniv.nl to control@bugs.debian.org. (full text, mbox, link).

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Debian Bug report logs - #16051 FIXED in NMU [was: help shouldn't go to stderr]

Debian Bug report logs - #16051
FIXED in NMU [was: help shouldn't go to stderr]