[OT] CDPATH (was: Re: [PATCH] Fix tests when using bash_completion)

On Mon, 23 Apr 2007, Junio C Hamano wrote:

Julian Phillips [off-list ref] writes:

quoted

(I'm not the only one who thinks CDPATH is ick am I? :S)

CDPATH is Ok as long as it stays as an interactive shell
variable.

Sadly, if you google for "CDPATH environment", you would see
many many hits.  That variable is not meant to be used as an
environment variable.

True - though personally I tend to use more discriminate shell functions 
anyway.

Something like this in .bashrc is acceptable:

	case "$PS1" in
       '')
       	;; # do not do useless thing for noninteractive
	?*)
       	CDPATH=my:favorite:path
               . $HOME/.bash-completion
		;;
	esac

but people usually are way too careless than that and export
CDPATH to the environment, and that is where breakages start.

I guess part of the problem is that a lot of these people don't actually 
understand the difference between shell variables and environment 
variables, or why the distinction is useful.  Plenty of people seem to do 
"export FOO=..." by rote.

-- 
Julian

  ---
Anyone can hold the helm when the sea is calm.
 		-- Publius Syrus