Re: automake: tap-driver.sh: cleanup and revival.

[Bob Friesenhahn]

On Tue, 24 Oct 2017, Mike Mestnik wrote:

> I'm reading this script closely because I'd like to make a few changes
> and am surprised it hasn't received any edits since 2012.  I think the

Perhaps it has been working perfectly since 2012.  Or perhaps no one 
has volunteered to improve it.

I (using this script since October, 2012) did not realize that there 
was a problem with the script until today.

> output is missing ratio of *test's failed, currently only file level
> stats are presented not test level, and also the following options
> from prove.
>
> --verbose         Print all test lines.
> --failures        Show failed tests.
>
> * This to me is a key feature of TAP and this script silently discards
> the most useful parts of the protocol.

It would be useful if there was more test summary output.

> Somethings I'v spotted that are driving me nuts.
> http://git.savannah.gnu.org/cgit/automake.git/tree/lib/tap-driver.sh#n100
> Clearly indicates that "--color-tests=yes" is the only way to enable
> color, there is no auto-detecting a PTY or any support for the
> documented "--color-tests=always"
>
> It's also crazy that "--color-tests=y" or "--color-tests=1" won't work
> and like wise "--comments" "--no-comments" seems out of place or
> rather a better way to implement Boolean arguments.

While I like color in photos and nature, automatic colorization of 
output often causes problems for me since it often renders the text 
unreadable.  It also introduces terminal escape codes into the text 
output, which can cause issues if captured output is later displayed 
on something other than a ANSI terminal.

If there is color support, it should be disabled by default and 
enabled by the user.

> Is there much interest in keeping this script the way it is or can I
> lobotomize and release it under a new name?  Suffix of ng is popular
> these days, tapng-driver.sh. or tap-driverng.sh

It is normal for projects which use this script to copy the script 
into their own source tree.  In this case you are free to name it 
anything you like.

If you have implemented improvements then you should submit a patch to 
the Automake project.

Bob
--
Bob Friesenhahn
address@hidden, http://www.simplesystems.org/users/bfriesen/
GraphicsMagick Maintainer,    http://www.GraphicsMagick.org/