Hi Harlan,
>From my POV, as long as one can bootstrap to the point where there is a
sufficient base of utilities, all is well.
I agree.
"we can't get there from here".
As has been said: install (say) coreutils-8.4, which does not require
printf. This gives you printf. Then proceed.
I still believe this is an epsilon-probability event. Like most people
here I've updated lots of machines running lots of versions over lots of
years, production and otherwise. I still cannot fathom a case where
*new* source releases requiring a printf command would be a serious
problem.
k
