Re: base64 tool?

[Simon Josefsson]

address@hidden writes:

> Simon Josefsson wrote:
>> Is a base64 encode/decode tool suitable for coreutils?
>> I typically use `M-: (base64-encode-string "foo")' in Emacs, but I
>> have found I often want a command line tool as well.  And `echo
>> foo|base64' is easier to type.
>> There is a base64 module in gnulib that I think would be suitable
>> for
>> this.  It should probably not read in the entire file in memory,
>> though.
>> I'm thinking:
>> Usage: base64 [OPTION] [FILE]...
>
> A general "codec" util would probably be better?
> i.e. codec --{de,en}code --codec={base64,uu,hexdump,quoted_print,...}
>
> This would of course overlap a lot with existing stuff,
> especially http://recode.progiciels-bpi.ca/

I was looking for something simpler, preferably the tool should even
be called 'base64' so TAB completion works.  Perhaps base64 is not yet
as widely used to motivate it being part of coreutils, though.  Just
because I often need such a tool doesn't mean everyone does, I guess.

Thanks.