Re: Feature discussion - startup files

[Rob Foehl]

On Mon, 21 Dec 2015, Chet Ramey wrote:

> My position is that a feature like this is not popular enough to be made
> the default, and the way to move forward and make something like it
> available is to make it a configurable option.  The standard way to do
> that is to make it an option in config-top.h, but it could be settable
> using configure.

My two cents: bash doesn't need any more initialization files.  There are 
already too many opportunities to screw around with what the shell does at 
startup that cannot be easily overridden or avoided by the user, and 
vendors already abuse this with all manner of crap they think desirable.

Another avenue for this sort of behavior, configurable or otherwise, will 
just result in more of the same -- with the same claims of "no support!" 
any time anyone tries to change the as-shipped defaults.  The end result 
will be no different from the current situation.

Further, the "do it, regardless" aspect of this proposal is particularly 
worrisome: the last thing anyone needs is another unconditionally sourced 
system-wide file in the style of bash_logout.  No more, please.

-Rob