Configuration Information [Automatically generated, do not change]: Machine: i386 OS: linux-gnu Compiler: i386-redhat-linux-gcc Compilation CFLAGS: -DPROGRAM='bash' -DCONF_HOSTTYPE='i386' -DCONF_OSTYPE='linux-gnu' -DCONF_MACHTYPE='i386-redhat-linux-gnu' -DCONF_VENDOR='redhat' -DSHELL -DHAVE_CONFIG_H -I. -I. -I./include -I./lib -D_GNU_SOURCE -O2 -march=i386 -mcpu=i686 -g uname output: Linux skywalker.ca.boeing.com 2.4.20-8 #1 Thu Mar 13 17:54:28 EST 2003 i686 i686 i386 GNU/Linux Machine Type: i386-redhat-linux-gnu
Bash Version: 2.05b Patch Level: 0 Release Status: release Description: [Detailed description of the problem, suggestion, or complaint.] Not sure if this was meant as a bug or feature, but I think it is a bug in bash. When assigning to PS1 to change the prompt, bash appears to append any new value to the initial default value, rather than to replace it. The human user cannot see the original elements in the prompt. Although not disturbing visually, bash sends a lot of unnecessary characters out at each prompt. If you use "script" or "expect" with logging turned on, the log will show that each prompt contains the original and new values of PS1. Unsetting PS1 and then setting PS1 does not get around the problem. Changing PS1 does replace the last PS1 assignment the user made, but does not remove the initial value. Repeat-By: The bash session shown below was captured with "script", and then post-processed with "cat -v", and shows the bug in bash's handling of PS1. The first prompt shown below indicates that the PS1 set in the /etc/bashrc file was added to the default prompt. The "script" command was run on RedHat 9.0. Stan Tazuma Boeing [EMAIL PROTECTED] Script started on Wed 22 Jun 2005 02:51:50 PM PDT ^[]0;[EMAIL PROTECTED]:~/bugs/[EMAIL PROTECTED] bash-prompt]$ date^M Wed Jun 22 14:51:53 PDT 2005^M ^[]0;[EMAIL PROTECTED]:~/bugs/[EMAIL PROTECTED] bash-prompt]$ echo $BASH_VERSION^M 2.05b.0(1)-release^M ^[]0;[EMAIL PROTECTED]:~/bugs/[EMAIL PROTECTED] bash-prompt]$ echo "$PS1"^M [EMAIL PROTECTED] \W]\$ ^M ^[]0;[EMAIL PROTECTED]:~/bugs/[EMAIL PROTECTED] bash-prompt]$ PS1='hello> '^M ^[]0;[EMAIL PROTECTED]:~/bugs/bash-prompt^Ghello> date^M Wed Jun 22 14:52:20 PDT 2005^M ^[]0;[EMAIL PROTECTED]:~/bugs/bash-prompt^Ghello> PS1=''^M ^[]0;[EMAIL PROTECTED]:~/bugs/bash-prompt^Gdate^M Wed Jun 22 14:52:25 PDT 2005^M ^[]0;[EMAIL PROTECTED]:~/bugs/bash-prompt^G Script done on Wed 22 Jun 2005 02:52:29 PM PDT _______________________________________________ Bug-bash mailing list Bug-bash@gnu.org http://lists.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/bug-bash