[m-rev.] for review: Print version information on two lines.

[Paul Bone]

On Tue, Mar 04, 2014 at 02:08:43PM +1100, Peter Wang wrote:
> On Tue, 4 Mar 2014 12:39:32 +1100, Paul Bone <paul at bone.id.au> wrote:
> > On Tue, Mar 04, 2014 at 12:09:54PM +1100, Peter Wang wrote:
> > > On Tue,  4 Mar 2014 11:28:36 +1100, Paul Bone <paul at bone.id.au> wrote:
> > > > For review by anyone.
> > > > 
> > > > Branches: master, version-14.01-branch
> > > > 
> > > > ---
> > > > 
> > > > In the Mercury compiler itself, and in a number of tools we print a version
> > > > string on one line,
> > > > 
> > > >     $ mmc --version
> > > >     Mercury Compiler, version rotd-2013-10-01, configured for x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu
> > > >     Copyright (C) 1993-2013 The University of Melbourne
> > > > 
> > > > When the version number is sufficiently long, such as for an ROTD release, this
> > > > will wrap on 80 column terminals.  This change splits these strings into two
> > > > parts.
> > > > 
> > > >     $ mmc --version
> > > >     Mercury Compiler, version rotd-2013-10-01,
> > > >     configured for x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu
> > > >     Copyright (C) 1993-2013 The University of Melbourne
> > > 
> > > This change is entirely unnecessary.
> > > 
> > 
> > Why is it unnecessary?  You should give reasons when stating a position.
> 
> Because you don't NEED to change it.  It only slightly helps human
> readers who type mmc -v on a 80 char terminal, and somehow aren't
> already used to seeing wrapped lines on a regular basis.

I recognize that people feel differently about different column widths.  We
can have discussions that feel very much like vi vs emacs discussions.  I
don't want to tell anyone that 80 columns is superior.

That said, 80 columns has been standard practice for a very long time.  I
certainly prefer 80 columns myself.

Problems occur when someone who prefers 120 columns sends me a file or
program that I view in my 80 column terminal.  However, if I send them my 80
column program or file they do not have a problem viewing it.  So to ensure
that no-one has a problem viewing anything it should be wrapped at 80
columns or less.  (Are there any semi-standardized terminal widths below 80
columns?).

Furthermore being 'used to' something, such as wrapping text on an 80 column
terminal is not an argument for it being acceptable.


> On the other hand, it is kind of nice for all the pertinent information
> to be on the first line.  There may be scripts which already expect it.
> I don't know if they exist and you could argue they shouldn't do that,
> but if someone else changed *their* output for a trivial reason and
> broke *my* script, I'd be pretty annoyed.

Zoltan has already addressed the issue of scripts depending on this.  I
agree with his points so I won't repeat them.

> If we're going to change the output then perhaps it would be better to
> just drop the word "configured"?
> 
> Mercury Compiler, version rotd-2013-10-01, for x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu

I don't mind, I don't understand the difference.  If my change is
unnecessary then this change is also unnecessary.


-- 
Paul Bone