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Re: backslash

John bubbles:
> Ouch!!
> 
> Is what you've done with backslash _really necessary_?
> 
> Naturally, I think the answer is no.
> Consider this an impassioned plea for a return to the way rc handles
> (doesn't handle) backslashes.  I really, really, REALLY don't want to
> have to change my history character AGAIN.

I absolutely agree.  Not only have I never missed the lack of backslash
quoting in rc, but I've thought many times "I'm glad this grep regexp
doesn't need quoting".  The only place quoting is ugly is the need for
'' in strings for a "'", but the alternatives are more horrific and
depraved than polite company can bear.

> And if I _need_ \a to represent a BEL character, on those rare
> occasions, I have no problem at all with `{echo -e \a}.

I always liked the 'ascii' command that was in Amdahl UTS (something).
You could do things like:
ascii bel nl cr ff c-a m-e c a t
(memory fades, and I'm probably glorifying it), but useful regardless.
Having it take C-like escapes would probably be the path of least surprise
though.  I should write it, just so I can get rid of the 
nl='
'
in my .rcrc.

	J

-- 
jeremy@sw.oz.au ph:+61 2 698 2322-x122 fax:+61 2 699 9174
I have, however, taken liberties with the barber pole.