Discussion:
[1003.1(2013)/Issue7+TC1 0000876]: allow implementations to fail on 'cat a >> a'
Austin Group Bug Tracker
2014-10-16 17:11:58 UTC
Permalink
A NOTE has been added to this issue.
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http://austingroupbugs.net/view.php?id=876
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Reported By: eblake
Assigned To:
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Project: 1003.1(2013)/Issue7+TC1
Issue ID: 876
Category: Shell and Utilities
Type: Omission
Severity: Objection
Priority: normal
Status: New
Name: Eric Blake
Organization: Red Hat
User Reference: eblake.cat
Section: cat
Page Number: 2526
Line Number: 81474
Interp Status: ---
Final Accepted Text:
======================================================================
Date Submitted: 2014-09-11 14:55 UTC
Last Modified: 2014-10-16 17:11 UTC
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Summary: allow implementations to fail on 'cat a >> a'
======================================================================

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(0002424) Don Cragun (manager) - 2014-10-16 17:11
http://austingroupbugs.net/view.php?id=876#c2424
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Interpretation response
------------------------
The standard states that the cat utility is required to copy the files
named as operands to standard output even if standard output is redirected
to one of those input files, and conforming implementations must conform to
this. However, concerns have been raised about this which are being
referred to the sponsor.

Rationale:
-------------
A cat command which redirects its standard output to a file that is also
named as n file operand is likely to run until the output file reaches the
maximum output file size allowed for that process or the underlying
filesystem runs out of space. This is a common application error that
accidentally consumes a lot of space needed by other users on the system.
Therefore, many implementations of the cat utility check for this condition
and, when it is found, print a diagnostic message and exit with a non-zero
exit status. This behavior is not currently allowed by the standard, but
should be.

Notes to the Editor (not part of this interpretation):
-------------------------------------------------------
Make the changes suggested in the Desired Action.

Issue History
Date Modified Username Field Change
======================================================================
2014-09-11 14:55 eblake New Issue
2014-09-11 14:55 eblake Name => Eric Blake
2014-09-11 14:55 eblake Organization => Red Hat
2014-09-11 14:55 eblake User Reference => eblake.cat
2014-09-11 14:55 eblake Section => cat
2014-09-11 14:55 eblake Page Number => 2526
2014-09-11 14:55 eblake Line Number => 81474
2014-09-11 14:55 eblake Interp Status => ---
2014-09-11 16:23 eblake Note Added: 0002377
2014-09-11 16:27 eblake Note Added: 0002378
2014-09-11 16:54 shware_systems Note Added: 0002379
2014-09-11 17:02 eblake Note Added: 0002380
2014-09-11 17:33 Don Cragun Note Added: 0002381
2014-09-11 17:34 Don Cragun Note Edited: 0002381
2014-09-11 17:42 eblake Note Added: 0002382
2014-09-12 09:40 geoffclare Note Added: 0002384
2014-10-16 17:11 Don Cragun Note Added: 0002424
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Austin Group Bug Tracker
2014-10-16 17:13:28 UTC
Permalink
The following issue NEEDS AN INTERPRETATION.
======================================================================
http://austingroupbugs.net/view.php?id=876
======================================================================
Reported By: eblake
Assigned To:
======================================================================
Project: 1003.1(2013)/Issue7+TC1
Issue ID: 876
Category: Shell and Utilities
Type: Omission
Severity: Objection
Priority: normal
Status: Interpretation Required
Name: Eric Blake
Organization: Red Hat
User Reference: eblake.cat
Section: cat
Page Number: 2526
Line Number: 81474
Interp Status: Pending
Final Accepted Text: See
http://austingroupbugs.net/view.php?id=876#c2424.
======================================================================
Date Submitted: 2014-09-11 14:55 UTC
Last Modified: 2014-10-16 17:13 UTC
======================================================================
Summary: allow implementations to fail on 'cat a >> a'
======================================================================

Issue History
Date Modified Username Field Change
======================================================================
2014-09-11 14:55 eblake New Issue
2014-09-11 14:55 eblake Name => Eric Blake
2014-09-11 14:55 eblake Organization => Red Hat
2014-09-11 14:55 eblake User Reference => eblake.cat
2014-09-11 14:55 eblake Section => cat
2014-09-11 14:55 eblake Page Number => 2526
2014-09-11 14:55 eblake Line Number => 81474
2014-09-11 14:55 eblake Interp Status => ---
2014-09-11 16:23 eblake Note Added: 0002377
2014-09-11 16:27 eblake Note Added: 0002378
2014-09-11 16:54 shware_systems Note Added: 0002379
2014-09-11 17:02 eblake Note Added: 0002380
2014-09-11 17:33 Don Cragun Note Added: 0002381
2014-09-11 17:34 Don Cragun Note Edited: 0002381
2014-09-11 17:42 eblake Note Added: 0002382
2014-09-12 09:40 geoffclare Note Added: 0002384
2014-10-16 17:11 Don Cragun Note Added: 0002424
2014-10-16 17:12 Don Cragun Note Edited: 0002424
2014-10-16 17:13 Don Cragun Interp Status --- => Pending
2014-10-16 17:13 Don Cragun Final Accepted Text => See
http://austingroupbugs.net/view.php?id=876#c2424.
2014-10-16 17:13 Don Cragun Status New => Interpretation
Required
2014-10-16 17:13 Don Cragun Resolution Open => Accepted
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