[asterisk-dev] CLI: list vs show ? (Re: [asterisk-commits] oej: branch 1.4 r46216 - /branches/1.4/channels/chan_sip.c)

[Steve Edwards]

On Wed, 25 Oct 2006, Kevin P. Fleming wrote:

> It is _not_ "noun verb", it is "category noun verb".

Sometimes.

 	"core show application," yes.
 	"zap show channels," yes.

 	"channel list," no.
 	"stop now," no.
 	"logger mute," no.
 	"dialplan reload, no.
 	"show threads," no.

The fact that it is inconsistent gives me cause for concern. A grammar 
should (in a perfect world) be consistent and unambiguous. You can argue 
that "channel" is a category, not a noun, but why should you have to?

The more I look at it, the less I like it. For example:

 	"show application" is obvious

 	"core show application" means I have to know that somebody decided 
that this is a core category before I can find out how to use the 
application.

> I don't think very many people would want 50+ commands that all start 
> with 'show' and tab completion that crosses all the possible categories.

Can we vote :)

I'm sure you've put a lot more thought into this, but must they cross? I 
agree the existing syntax needs help ("zap show channels" should be "show 
zap channels"), but I think we've made a wrong turn here and we need to 
turn back.

In my previous post, I showed 3 examples (gdb, MySQL, SQL*Plus) of "verb 
noun." I'm sure I could find many more. There's probably a reason why.

Thanks in advance,
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Steve Edwards      sedwards at sedwards.com      Voice: +1-760-468-3867 PST
Newline                                             Fax: +1-760-731-3000