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1 | Introduction |
2 | ============ | |
726f6388 | 3 | |
ac50fbac | 4 | This is GNU Bash, version 4.3. Bash is the GNU Project's Bourne |
495aee44 | 5 | Again SHell, a complete implementation of the POSIX shell spec, |
726f6388 | 6 | but also with interactive command line editing, job control on |
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7 | architectures that support it, csh-like features such as history |
8 | substitution and brace expansion, and a slew of other features. | |
9 | For more information on the features of Bash that are new to this | |
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10 | type of shell, see the file `doc/bashref.texi'. There is also a |
11 | large Unix-style man page. The man page is the definitive description | |
12 | of the shell's features. | |
726f6388 | 13 | |
b80f6443 | 14 | See the file POSIX for a discussion of how the Bash defaults differ |
495aee44 | 15 | from the POSIX spec and a description of the Bash `posix mode'. |
726f6388 | 16 | |
ccc6cda3 | 17 | There are some user-visible incompatibilities between this version |
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18 | of Bash and previous widely-distributed versions, bash-4.1 and |
19 | bash-4.2. For details, see the file COMPAT. The NEWS file tersely | |
0628567a | 20 | lists features that are new in this release. |
ccc6cda3 | 21 | |
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22 | Bash is free software, distributed under the terms of the [GNU] General |
23 | Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation, | |
24 | version 3 of the License (or any later version). For more information, | |
25 | see the file COPYING. | |
ccc6cda3 | 26 | |
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27 | A number of frequently-asked questions are answered in the file |
28 | `doc/FAQ'. | |
29 | ||
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30 | To compile Bash, type `./configure', then `make'. Bash auto-configures |
31 | the build process, so no further intervention should be necessary. Bash | |
32 | builds with `gcc' by default if it is available. If you want to use `cc' | |
33 | instead, type | |
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34 | |
35 | CC=cc ./configure | |
36 | ||
37 | if you are using a Bourne-style shell. If you are not, the following | |
38 | may work: | |
39 | ||
40 | env CC=cc ./configure | |
41 | ||
42 | Read the file INSTALL in this directory for more information about how | |
43 | to customize and control the build process. The file NOTES contains | |
44 | platform-specific installation and configuration information. | |
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45 | |
46 | If you are a csh user and wish to convert your csh aliases to Bash | |
ccc6cda3 | 47 | aliases, you may wish to use the script `examples/misc/alias-conv.sh' |
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48 | as a starting point. The script `examples/misc/cshtobash' is a |
49 | more ambitious script that attempts to do a more complete job. | |
726f6388 | 50 | |
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51 | Reporting Bugs |
52 | ============== | |
53 | ||
b72432fd | 54 | Bug reports for bash should be sent to: |
726f6388 | 55 | |
bb70624e | 56 | bug-bash@gnu.org |
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57 | |
58 | using the `bashbug' program that is built and installed at the same | |
59 | time as bash. | |
60 | ||
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61 | The discussion list `bug-bash@gnu.org' often contains information |
62 | about new ports of Bash, or discussions of new features or behavior | |
63 | changes that people would like. This mailing list is also available | |
64 | as a usenet newsgroup: gnu.bash.bug. | |
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65 | |
66 | When you send a bug report, please use the `bashbug' program that is | |
67 | built at the same time as bash. If bash fails to build, try building | |
68 | bashbug directly with `make bashbug'. If you cannot build `bashbug', | |
bb70624e | 69 | please send mail to bug-bash@gnu.org with the following information: |
d166f048 | 70 | |
7117c2d2 JA |
71 | * the version number and release status of Bash (e.g., 2.05a-release) |
72 | * the machine and OS that it is running on (you may run | |
73 | `bashversion -l' from the bash build directory for this information) | |
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74 | * a list of the compilation flags or the contents of `config.h', if |
75 | appropriate | |
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76 | * a description of the bug |
77 | * a recipe for recreating the bug reliably | |
78 | * a fix for the bug if you have one! | |
79 | ||
80 | The `bashbug' program includes much of this automatically. | |
81 | ||
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82 | Questions and requests for help with bash and bash programming may be |
83 | sent to the help-bash@gnu.org mailing list. | |
84 | ||
d166f048 | 85 | If you would like to contact the Bash maintainers directly, send mail |
bb70624e | 86 | to bash-maintainers@gnu.org. |
ccc6cda3 | 87 | |
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88 | While the Bash maintainers do not promise to fix all bugs, we would |
89 | like this shell to be the best that we can make it. | |
90 | ||
91 | Enjoy! | |
92 | ||
93 | Chet Ramey | |
0628567a | 94 | chet.ramey@case.edu |
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95 | |
96 | Copying and distribution of this file, with or without modification, | |
97 | are permitted in any medium without royalty provided the copyright | |
98 | notice and this notice are preserved. This file is offered as-is, | |
99 | without any warranty. |