ls(1) on System V

[Doug Gwyn <gwyn>]

> > This is the second S5R2 bug that is fixed "for free" if you convert
> > to the Berkeley "directory library".  The library provides directory
> > entries with null-terminated names, fixing this bug; the previous bug
> > was a shell problem caused, if I remember correctly, by testing whether
> > the result of an "open" of a directory was > 0 rather than whether it
> > was >= 0.
> > 
> > I've converted lots of S5R2 programs to use the library; it's very easy.
> > I'd vote for putting it into 1) the /usr/group standard, 2) the System V
> > Interface Definition (which currently, bless its soul, does *not* commit
> > to what directories look like when you open them), and therefore 3)
> > System V.

I second the motion!  Benefits include:
	(1)  Easier coding
	(2)  Cleaner coding
	(3)  Portable coding
	(4)  Faster operation due to buffering

Of course virtually ALL the UNIX System V Release 2 utilities have
been so converted in the BRL UNIX System V emulation for 4.2BSD
(out of necessity).  If AT&T wants `em they can have `em.  I also
previously posted a UNIX System V edition of the directory access
library routines.  They should be added to the standard C library!