Re: sysexits.h codes? (was: Re: [RFC][PATCH] `newuser` prompt theme)

[Marlon Richert <marlon.richert@xxxxxxxxx>]

On Sat, May 1, 2021 at 12:16 AM Daniel Shahaf <d.s@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> Marlon Richert wrote on Fri, 30 Apr 2021 19:40 +00:00:
> >
> > On Wed, Mar 24, 2021 at 4:29 PM Paul <GammaFunction@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> > > - I half-agree with not unsetting clobber. noclobber is better default
> > >   behavior (it prevents much more damaging surprises), but just seeing
> > >   "file exists" or "no such file or directory" without any '>|' or '>>|'
> > >   suggestion is frustrating.
> >
> > That could use a more helpful message, too.
>
> Yeah.  The code should say what it was trying to do when it called the
> syscall which returned that error; i.e., «zerrnam(foo, "while doing bar:
> %e", errno)» rather than «zerrnam(foo, "%e", errno)».

That still wouldn't help the user understand why this happens (because
NOCLOBBER is set) and it still doesn't tell them what to do about it
(use '>|' to override NOCLOBBER or just write to another file).

As for your other points: Your call. I've laid out my arguments; I
have nothing further to add.