Proposal: ksh version switch script (was: Re: [ksh93-integration-discuss] Extending Makefile.ksh93switch for /bin/sh?)

[Roland Mainz]

April Chin wrote:
> > On 7/28/06, April Chin <April.Chin at eng.sun.com> wrote:
> > > I would prefer any proposed /usr/bin/sh migration be a follow-up
> > > to /usr/bin/ksh migration.  Changing /usr/bin/sh may prove more difficult
> but
> > > then again the /usr/bin/ksh work may pave the way.
> > OK
> >
> > But I'd like to propose the creation of a script which allows root to
> > switch the shell versions of /bin/ksh between ksh88 and ksh93. In my
> > opinion it would be the perfect compromise.
> 
> Well, maybe, but supporting such a switching script means all
> scripts starting with
> #!/bin/ksh must remain portable between ksh88 and ksh93.
> And scripts which want to use new ksh93 features will
> need to start with #!/bin/ksh93.  I suppose that will happen
> anyway after /usr/bin/ksh93 gets integrated, but I don't necessarily
> want to reinforce that behavior after ksh93 migrates to /usr/bin/ksh.
> Ultimately, I think we want to try to obsolete ksh88, and
> a switching script could end up being a crutch that prohibits the
> full migration to ksh93.

Originally the idea of a "switch script" sounded nice - but I fully
agree with April that this may likely generate more problems than
neccesary... :-)

----

Bye,
Roland

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