GNU bug report logs - #30033
`grep --fixed-strings --regexp=…` is an annoying syntax → Introduce --pattern=… option

Message received at submit <at> debbugs.gnu.org:

Received: (at submit) by debbugs.gnu.org; 8 Jan 2018 21:34:37 +0000
From debbugs-submit-bounces <at> debbugs.gnu.org Mon Jan 08 16:34:37 2018
Received: from localhost ([127.0.0.1]:41806 helo=debbugs.gnu.org)
	by debbugs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.84_2)
	(envelope-from <debbugs-submit-bounces <at> debbugs.gnu.org>)
	id 1eYf40-0000Au-Lr
	for submit <at> debbugs.gnu.org; Mon, 08 Jan 2018 16:34:36 -0500
Received: from eggs.gnu.org ([208.118.235.92]:36874)
 by debbugs.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.84_2)
 (envelope-from <admin@HIDDEN>) id 1eYeYG-0007tE-7A
 for submit <at> debbugs.gnu.org; Mon, 08 Jan 2018 16:01:48 -0500
Received: from Debian-exim by eggs.gnu.org with spam-scanned (Exim 4.71)
 (envelope-from <admin@HIDDEN>) id 1eYeYA-0003ft-As
 for submit <at> debbugs.gnu.org; Mon, 08 Jan 2018 16:01:43 -0500
X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 3.3.2 (2011-06-06) on eggs.gnu.org
X-Spam-Level: 
X-Spam-Status: No, score=0.0 required=5.0 tests=BAYES_40,T_DKIM_INVALID
 autolearn=disabled version=3.3.2
Received: from lists.gnu.org ([2001:4830:134:3::11]:45766)
 by eggs.gnu.org with esmtps (TLS1.0:RSA_AES_256_CBC_SHA1:32)
 (Exim 4.71) (envelope-from <admin@HIDDEN>)
 id 1eYeYA-0003fV-71
 for submit <at> debbugs.gnu.org; Mon, 08 Jan 2018 16:01:42 -0500
Received: from eggs.gnu.org ([2001:4830:134:3::10]:56066)
 by lists.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.71)
 (envelope-from <admin@HIDDEN>) id 1eYeY9-0000Ry-4t
 for bug-grep@HIDDEN; Mon, 08 Jan 2018 16:01:41 -0500
Received: from Debian-exim by eggs.gnu.org with spam-scanned (Exim 4.71)
 (envelope-from <admin@HIDDEN>) id 1eYeY5-0003Wg-Rl
 for bug-grep@HIDDEN; Mon, 08 Jan 2018 16:01:41 -0500
Received: from obelix.hetzner.computer42.org ([144.76.43.40]:48436
 helo=mail-rz.computer42.org)
 by eggs.gnu.org with esmtps (TLS1.0:DHE_RSA_AES_256_CBC_SHA1:32)
 (Exim 4.71) (envelope-from <admin@HIDDEN>)
 id 1eYeY5-00034Z-FW
 for bug-grep@HIDDEN; Mon, 08 Jan 2018 16:01:37 -0500
Received: from localhost (localhost [127.0.0.1])
 by mail-rz.computer42.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id CDEC160240
 for <bug-grep@HIDDEN>; Mon,  8 Jan 2018 22:01:12 +0100 (CET)
DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=simple/simple; d=computer42.org;
 s=mail; t=1515445272;
 bh=oBL15W9tjYatNERUvly6cCW62X+muUBNKuKSWd1moGY=;
 h=Subject:From:To:Date;
 b=ApFLR+vOJ8qh4SWJP57VtUXt/GDrluoYGxLHaie11T9DYI7yJCHtTM/RWmlfoiEHv
 6memeWttEvZYuXfi6FgvpOv6sczTMVjMHZ4QUnhmKQYM3g/no/gB8vFYzz2U7nRdKd
 rrnQgbbP3GZm5XH00GFmJBSrtEYX/1o+03U6UvaQ=
X-Virus-Scanned: Debian amavisd-new at computer42.org
Received: from mail-rz.computer42.org ([127.0.0.1])
 by localhost (mail-rz.computer42.org [127.0.0.1]) (amavisd-new, port 10024)
 with ESMTP id YUb_o5YLgnGv for <bug-grep@HIDDEN>;
 Mon,  8 Jan 2018 22:01:11 +0100 (CET)
Received: from mail-schiller.computer42.org
 (ip5b43281c.dynamic.kabel-deutschland.de [91.67.40.28])
 (using TLSv1.2 with cipher ECDHE-RSA-AES256-GCM-SHA384 (256/256 bits))
 (Client CN "nermal.computer42.org",
 Issuer "ProArc GmbH Server CA" (verified OK))
 by mail-rz.computer42.org (Postfix) with ESMTPS id 9106C60127
 for <bug-grep@HIDDEN>; Mon,  8 Jan 2018 22:01:11 +0100 (CET)
Authentication-Results: mail-rz.computer42.org; dkim=pass (1024-bit key;
 unprotected) header.d=computer42.org header.i=@computer42.org
 header.b=KdiHJvRp; 
 dkim=pass (1024-bit key) header.d=computer42.org header.i=@computer42.org
 header.b=mhWe0tAu; dkim-atps=neutral
Received: from localhost (localhost [127.0.0.1])
 by mail-schiller.computer42.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 976EB20581
 for <bug-grep@HIDDEN>; Mon,  8 Jan 2018 22:01:07 +0100 (CET)
DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=simple/simple; d=computer42.org;
 s=mail; t=1515445267;
 bh=oBL15W9tjYatNERUvly6cCW62X+muUBNKuKSWd1moGY=;
 h=Subject:From:To:Date;
 b=KdiHJvRpJEShleYKOhEs53l+mOX7Ut8RWIV/9MxWCWbljJcObEpLY/UajwhfriMaQ
 44E6cbJoiHbsPYeaZl15UXlxAhsEwXiPBX5DdRrgkxQtMVulpKMzMDs2Ysum4JBH4I
 GrBhgq4tQMRwWGXcJL0qR+Xr5TXd3q5Yl87XlqZY=
X-Virus-Scanned: Debian amavisd-new at computer42.org
Received: from mail-schiller.computer42.org ([127.0.0.1])
 by localhost (nermal.server.computer42.org [127.0.0.1]) (amavisd-new,
 port 10024) with ESMTP id 5LD8kHggL23X for <bug-grep@HIDDEN>;
 Mon,  8 Jan 2018 22:01:06 +0100 (CET)
Received: from dilbert.office.computer42.org (dilbert.office.computer42.org
 [10.42.2.80])
 (using TLSv1.2 with cipher ECDHE-RSA-AES128-GCM-SHA256 (128/128 bits))
 (Client did not present a certificate)
 by mail-schiller.computer42.org (Postfix) with ESMTPSA id 40B222015F
 for <bug-grep@HIDDEN>; Mon,  8 Jan 2018 22:01:06 +0100 (CET)
DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=simple/simple; d=computer42.org;
 s=mail; t=1515445266;
 bh=oBL15W9tjYatNERUvly6cCW62X+muUBNKuKSWd1moGY=;
 h=Subject:From:To:Date;
 b=mhWe0tAu+HUgGJlYdhtEabi1yRPuQF5qQyA3jv4ODFkGB9lFhJhrE6Z5vg34pfZWD
 7LRu75RDJuyhtlOU3eCGz3dA6Q3cogIws+zl71EK9MChf/+1ViurBXhO0DJg4GUp6E
 3eZtJzMpNhlea3AIRIkATUuEDxWDrgmTha8fgHSA=
Message-ID: <1515445266.8043.10.camel@HIDDEN>
Subject: `grep --fixed-strings =?UTF-8?Q?--regexp=3D=E2=80=A6`?= is an
 annoying syntax =?UTF-8?Q?=E2=86=92?= Introduce
 =?UTF-8?Q?--pattern=3D=E2=80=A6?= option
From: "H.-Dirk Schmitt" <admin@HIDDEN>
To: bug-grep@HIDDEN
Date: Mon, 08 Jan 2018 22:01:06 +0100
Organization: computer42
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
X-Mailer: Evolution 3.26.3-1~ubuntu16.04.1~c42.ppa1 
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
X-detected-operating-system: by eggs.gnu.org: GNU/Linux 2.2.x-3.x [generic]
 [fuzzy]
X-detected-operating-system: by eggs.gnu.org: GNU/Linux 2.6.x
X-Received-From: 2001:4830:134:3::11
X-Spam-Score: -5.0 (-----)
X-Debbugs-Envelope-To: submit
X-Mailman-Approved-At: Mon, 08 Jan 2018 16:34:34 -0500
X-BeenThere: debbugs-submit <at> debbugs.gnu.org
X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.18
Precedence: list
List-Id: <debbugs-submit.debbugs.gnu.org>
List-Unsubscribe: <https://debbugs.gnu.org/cgi-bin/mailman/options/debbugs-submit>, 
 <mailto:debbugs-submit-request <at> debbugs.gnu.org?subject=unsubscribe>
List-Archive: <https://debbugs.gnu.org/cgi-bin/mailman/private/debbugs-submit/>
List-Post: <mailto:debbugs-submit <at> debbugs.gnu.org>
List-Help: <mailto:debbugs-submit-request <at> debbugs.gnu.org?subject=help>
List-Subscribe: <https://debbugs.gnu.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/debbugs-submit>, 
 <mailto:debbugs-submit-request <at> debbugs.gnu.org?subject=subscribe>
Errors-To: debbugs-submit-bounces <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Sender: "Debbugs-submit" <debbugs-submit-bounces <at> debbugs.gnu.org>
X-Spam-Score: -5.0 (-----)

Hello!

just a minor annoyance is that there is no alternative option name for
--regexp=3D=E2=80=A6=20

Together with --fixed-strings this leads to ambiguous shell scripts.

My suggestion / feature request is to add --pattern=3D=E2=80=A6 as alias =
for=20
--regexp=3D=E2=80=A6

In addition I suggest the analog aliases:
  --word-pattern for --word-regexp
  --line-pattern for --line-regexp


In anticipation of the reply =E2=80=9EWhy not to use simply the short opt=
ions?=E2=80=9C
the reply:
Long options providing a readable API, and this =E2=80=9Ebug report=E2=80=
=9C is
intended to improve the readability of shell scripts.

Best Regards,

H.-Dirk Schmitt