tech-userlevel archive

[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index][Old Index]

test a -nt b if b doesn't exist



I've noticed a subtle difference between our sh and bash when applying 
test -nt to a pair of files where the first one exists, but the second 
doesn't: In bash, the result is true (0), while with our sh (and /bin/test), 
it's false (1).

Unfortunately, test -nt is not specified by SUS.

Is there any consnsus among shell developers what the preferrd behaviour is?
At least, I think sh's behaviour should be documented (if only in the sense 
that it's undefined).


Home | Main Index | Thread Index | Old Index