[ovs-dev] Bug#691508: [PATCH] ovs-vsctl: Allow command-specific options to mingle with global options.

[Ben Pfaff]

On Fri, Nov 02, 2012 at 04:21:56PM -0500, Adam Heath wrote:
> On 11/02/2012 04:19 PM, Ben Pfaff wrote:
> > I still don't understand.  Why would an existing script call ovs-vsctl
> > with --may-exist as a global option?  The call would not do anything
> > useful, because it would exit with a fatal error every time.  Taking
> > this argument to its logical conclusion, one must never extend any
> > program by adding a new option, because it could break some existing
> > script that tries to use that (nonexistent) option.
> 
> Exactly.  Your patch breaks existing scripts, by suddenly allowing for
> --may-exist to work where it used to not.

You still haven't explained why an existing script would call
ovs-vsctl with --may-exist as a global option.  Why would it do that?

> I'm saying you should just change the error message, but do not allow
> for it to be used as a global option.

It's an option, and it's easier to do than the alternative patch that
I sent out, but I don't understand why you think it will break any
real script.  Who is in the habit of writing useless scripts that do
nothing but provoke errors?