Desired behaviour of "ifconfig -alias"

[Oliver Fromme]

Freddie Cash wrote:
 > Oliver Fromme wrote:
 > > If asked what "-alias" does, I would reply that it is an
 > > alias for "delete" or "remove", which removes an IP address
 > > from an interface.  According to the docs, the IP address
 > > to be removed must be specified.  The docs don't mention
 > > what happens if none is specified, so the behaviour is
 > > undefined and should not be relied on.  It just happens
 > 
 > [insert tongue into cheek]
 > Hmmm, so if the behaviour is undefined, and should not be relied upon,
 > why is everyone arguing to keep it as they rely upon it?  :)

Good question.  Personally I use that "feature" only at the
shell prompt (interactively) because it saves typing and
potentially reduces typing errors.  And I see imemdiately
if it fails or produces unexpected results.

In scripts I always use the documented syntax, so there's
no danger.

 > If no one should be relying upon this undefined behaviour, then why
 > not fix it and  make it reliable?

Exactly.  That's what I'm suggesting.  Fix the manual page,
so the behaviour isn't undefined anymore, thus make it
reliable.  ;-)

Best regards
   Oliver

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Oliver Fromme, secnetix GmbH & Co. KG, Marktplatz 29, 85567 Grafing b. M.
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