Enhancing the user experience with tcsh

[Chuck Burns]

On 2/10/2012 10:41 AM, Gavin Atkinson wrote:
> On Fri, 2012-02-10 at 11:25 -0500, Eitan Adler wrote:
>> Picking a random email to reply to.
>>
>> My goal with this email is to reduce the amount of "controversial" changes.
> I applaud this.  I've often considered doing the same but avoided it
> because it was easier than fighting the bikeshed :)
>
>> commit 3ea4ea3a59d14cb060244618dd89d7dd0170bee1
>> diff --git a/etc/root/dot.cshrc b/etc/root/dot.cshrc
>> --- a/etc/root/dot.cshrc
>> +++ b/etc/root/dot.cshrc
>> @@ -7,9 +7,10 @@
>>
>>   alias h                history 25
>>   alias j                jobs -l
>> -alias la       ls -a
>> +alias la       ls -aF
>>   alias lf       ls -FA
>> -alias ll       ls -lA
>> +alias ll       ls -lAF
>> +alias ls       ls -F
>>
>> Two people didn't like these changes but didn't explain why. This is
>> incredibly helpful, especially for a new user.  If you dislike the
>> alias change please explain what bothers you about it?
> I don't use the first two aliases, so I don't care about them at all.  I
> do however disagree strongly with changing the default options on such a
> widely used command.
>
> This change is disruptive, and it can affect use of ls(1) in scripts.
> For example, it even sticks the extra characters in the output of
> "ls -1" (the number 1), which is specifically designed to be used when
> piping the output elsewhere.  Please do not break this.  It is also
> distracting - If I want to see what type of file a particular entry is,
> why not just run "ls -l"?
>
> It's like the tendency some Linux distributions have of
> "alias mv mv -i", although that can at least be overridden on the
> command line with "-f".  The "ls -F" change cannot be overridden without
> unaliasing.
>
>>   if ($?prompt) then
>>         # An interactive shell -- set some stuff up
>> -       set prompt = "`/bin/hostname -s`# "
>> +       set prompt = "[%n@%m]%c04%# "
>> +       set promptchars = "%#"
>>
>> Many people had alternative suggestions for the prompt. Can you please
>> clarify why you believe your prompt should be the _default_ one?
> I can't comment as I didn't say my suggestion should be default - but
> for me the above isn't a bad choice.  I would however prefer:
> set prompt = "%n@%m:%c04 %# "
> and not
> set prompt = "[%n@%m]%c04%# "
>
> as that then gives you user at host:path in exactly the same format as you
> need to use with scp, etc.
>
>
>>> I use the $HOME/bin on my machines but I am not so sure to make this a general thing.
>> Many people expect it, and given that it is the last item in the path
>> it won't affect all that much.
> It's been in there forever.  I think this should stay, it would just be
> too disruptive otherwise.
>
>
My $0.02

Instead of using -F to denote filetypes, why not use colors? -G -- it 
shouldnt affect scripts at all, yet still provide the same sort of 
feedback. (Tho, I personally use csh's built-in "ls-F" instead of "ls", 
and actually tend to alias it to ls as well.)

Just a thought.

I do, however, like most of the other changes. Here's my stamp. 
"Approved" :)

-- 
Chuck Burns
The Southern Libertarian (owner/editor)
http://www.thesouthernlibertarian.com/