Re: Bash2 segfaults in while: do loops

[Mathieu Vanasse]

On Fri, 15 Sep 2006, Bob Proulx wrote:

> nuage@nuageinfo.com wrote:
> > Bash Version: 2.05b
> > Patch Level: 0
> > ...
> >         When trying to run a while loop, bash seldom segfaults. The
> > behavior is not constant. The machine is in fact an AMD 64x2, here
> > is a extract from dmesg:
> > ...
> > [nuage@frigo ~]$ while : ; do true ;done
> > Segmentation fault: 11 (core dumped)
>
> Unfortunately that is such a non-specific error that only non-specific
> responses can be given.
>
> Obviously such a simple case should not produce a segmentation fault
> and does not on most systems or there would be many reports.  I am
> also running bash-2.05b from Debian Sarge/Stable on amd64 and am not
> experiencing this problem.  Therefore I conjecture that this is
> something specific to your particular environment, compiler, library,
> or other.  Probably simply rebuilding the previous source with a fresh
> environment would avoid or move this problem around.
>
> Since you are running FreeBSD you might be able to find OS specific
> help from a FreeBSD support group.  I suggest you ask there and see
> what other users suggest.  Personally I think you just have a bad
> build and if you can get a better build you will avoid this problem.

I did rebuild bash2 and experienced the same problem. I just upgraded to 
bash3, as suggested by another person in response to my bug, and the 
problem is now gone.

Thanks

Mathieu Vanasse
Nuage Informatique Inc.
<mathieu@nuageinfo.com>