Random thoughts. (Was Stuff)

[Les Mikesell]

Robert P. J. Day wrote:
> 
>> You can get a list of the supported commands by using an invalid
>> option. I like "service <name> help" as in:
>>
>> # service smb help
>> Usage: /etc/init.d/smb {start|stop|restart|reload|status|condrestart}
> 
> or you could just leave the option out entirely, to get exactly the
> same result:
> 
>   # service smb
>   Usage: /etc/init.d/smb {start|stop|restart|reload|status|condrestart}
> 
> heh.  top *that*.
> 
> rday
> 
> p.s.  i am a little annoyed that the usage message doesn't reflect how
> you invoked that feature, instead referring to "/etc/init.d/smb".
> that's bound to confuse a few people who will have no idea what it's
> referring to.

The script just reports how it was invoked (i.e. $0). Programs usually 
don't know about parent wrappers or what human command actually set 
things in motion.  And that's normally a good thing. You want each 
component to work the same way every time regardless of circumstances.

-- 
   Les Mikesell
    lesmikesell at gmail.com