Linux

48287 readers

608 users here now

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

Rules

Posts must be relevant to operating systems running the Linux kernel. GNU/Linux or otherwise.
No misinformation
No NSFW content
No hate speech, bigotry, etc

Related Communities

Community icon by Alpár-Etele Méder, licensed under CC BY 3.0

founded 5 years ago

MODERATORS

AgreeableLandscape@lemmy.ml

nooter692@lemmy.ml

MarcellusDrum@lemmy.ml

cypherpunks@lemmy.ml

cyclohexane@lemmy.ml

d3Xt3r@lemmy.nz

508

Linus Torvalds Injects Tabs To Thwart Kconfig Parsers Not Correctly Handling Them (www.phoronix.com)

submitted 7 months ago by AnActOfCreation@programming.dev to c/linux@lemmy.ml

116 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Linus Torvalds added hidden tabs to Kconfig to challenge parsers that can't handle them.
Tabs were intentionally added to the common Kconfig file for page sizes to expose faulty parsers.
Torvalds believes parsers unable to handle tabs shouldn't be parsing kernel Kconfig files, aiming to force fixes.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[–] AnActOfCreation@programming.dev 22 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Notice Linus doesn't use tabs; he just thinks the parser shouldn't die when it sees them.

[–] casual_turtle_stew_enjoyer@sh.itjust.works 2 points 7 months ago

Yeah and that makes sense. But I still choose to die on the hill of tabs or nothing. That's just how anal I am about my code.

And I realize there are niche scenarios where tabs don't make sense, but I could care less about those. Afaik, even assemblers support tabs. If you have tabs, I feel it is almost sacrilegious not to use them for indentation.