From Bugzilla Helper: User-Agent: Mozilla/4.77 [en] (X11; U; SunOS 5.8 sun4u) Description of problem: RedHat 7.1 root environment has escape sequences in the prompt variable that breaks usage with Solaris xterm windows. Since systems rarely are exist in a homogenous network we need to be more careful about how they work out of the box and integrate with other systems. Specific example is the ls command output gets broken. Version-Release number of selected component (if applicable): How reproducible: Always Steps to Reproduce: 1.Login to the root account using a Solaris xterm window 2.Execute the ls -F command on say /usr/src 3.Should not be able to see all of the directories Actual Results: douglas: $ su - Password: [root@douglas /root]# uname -a Linux douglas 2.4.3-12 #4 Sat Sep 8 00:30:30 PDT 2001 i586 unknown [root@douglas /root]# ls -F /usr/src linux-2.4@ / / / [root@douglas /root]# Expected Results: douglas: $ ls -F /usr/src linux-2.4@ linux-2.4.3/ linux-2.4.9-6/ redhat/ douglas: $ Additional info:
Those are standard xterm ascii sequences. If the Solaris xterm can't handle them, it's a Solaris bug. They've been verified to work on various Linux distributions, FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD and even BeOS. If you don't like the ls color sequences, deactivate/remove /etc/profile.d/colorls.{sh,csh}.
While I acknowledge that these escape sequences will work on most if not all freely developed operating systems I believe that you will find that they work on very few commercial versions. Just as we evaluate people on how they interact and get along with others, we as System Administrators do much the same with technology. Many times we remember what is not done well instead of what was done well. Put another way, how many times have you been frustrated by having to trial and error discover what is the boot up escape key for a system. The system might be a new version from a manufacturer that you all ready have experience with. Now I ask what business value has the developer added to the product and customer in changing boot escape character. I do not want start a rampant discussion. Just trying to expand the awareness of impacts that minor changes and decisions can have.