expr(1) misfeature

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Article #55

#55

From: utzoohenry
Date: Tue, 13 Apr 1982 20:06

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Expr's : operator (pattern match), unlike every other pattern-matching
facility in Unix, insists on matching the WHOLE string or failing.  This
inconsistency trips up everyone who tries to use the @#$% thing for the
first time.  There is no reason for it;  expr could use the ^$ convention
for anchored matching the same way awk does.  Is there some reason for
this botch?

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Path: arc1-ca.pugleaf.net!utzoo!henry
From: utzoo!henry
Newsgroups: net.bugs.v7
Subject: expr(1) misfeature
Date: Tue, 13 Apr 1982 20:06:33 +0000
Message-ID: <anews.Autzoo.1551>