This package contains a reimplementation of getopt(1).

PREFACE

Getopt(1) is a program to help shell scripts parse command-line parameters.
It is for example included in the util-linux distribution (upto version
2.7.1). But, there are some problems with that getopt(1) implementation, 
as listed in the 'BUGS' section of its man-page:

>BUGS
>     Whatever getopt(3) has.
>
>     Arguments containing white space or imbedded shell metacharacters gener-
>     ally will not survive intact;  this looks easy to fix but isn't.
>
>     The error message for an invalid option is identified as coming from
>     getopt rather than from the shell procedure containing the invocation of
>     getopt; this again is hard to fix.
>
>     The precise best way to use the set command to set the arguments without
>     disrupting the value(s) of shell options varies from one shell version to
>     another.

This implementation of getopt(1) is written to solve some of these problems,
while still staying (for all practical purposes) completely compatible with
other getopt(1) implementations.


INSTALLATION

Installation should be very easy. Just type 'make' to compile the sources.
It should compile cleanly, without any warnings, but even if it does not
you probably don't have to worry. You must use GNU Make and gcc, or you
will have to edit the Makefile. 

Type 'make install' to install the binary and the manual page. It installs 
by default in /usr/local/bin and /usr/local/man/man1, to install in /usr/bin 
and /usr/man/man1 try 'make install prefix=/usr'.

The example files can be installed in /usr/local/lib/getopt by calling
'make install_doc'.

If you do not trust the getopt(3) in your libc, or if you do not use a libc
with the GNU getopt(3) routines, you can use the gnu sources as provided 
in the gnu directory. Try 'make LIBCGETOPT=0'. Ignore any compile warnings.

You can check whether the new implementation of getopt is found first
in your path by calling 'bash test.bash'.


HIGHLIGHTS

It can do anything that the GNU getopt(3) routines can do.

It can cope with spaces and shell metacharacters within arguments.

It can parse long parameters.

It can shuffle parameters, so you can mix options and other parameters on
the command-line.

It can be easily identified as an enhanced getopt(1) from within shell scripts.

It can report parse errors as coming from the shell script.

It is fully compatible with other getopt(1) implementations.

COPYING

This program comes under the GNU general public licence version 2. See the 
file COPYING included in this package. Note that though you may freely
copy it, it is copyright (c) 1997 by Frodo Looijaard <frodol@dds.nl>.
Files in the gnu directory are from glibc-2.0.4: copyright (C) 1987, 88, 
89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97 Free Software Foundation, Inc.


DOWNLOADING

You can find the latest version of this program at 
<http://huizen.dds.nl/~frodol>.
