> In article <linux.kernel.5lohbe4xyq.fsf@tequila.systemsz.cs.yale.edu>,
> Stefan Monnier <monnier+/news/lists/linux/kernel@TEQUILA.SYSTEMSZ.CS.YALE.EDU> wrote:
>
> >Why in the world is 'cat /proc/cpuinfo' better than 'bin2text /proc/cpuinfo' ?
>
> IFS=: while read token value;do
> echo $token ":" $value
> done < /proc/cpuinfo
>
> can be used even when /usr/bin has gone south for the winter. One of
Also, `bin2text' is yet another program that needs to be kept up to date.
And you either need one that handles _everything_ in /proc and needs
updating every two weeks, or a different one for every part of /proc and
the hassle of keeping track of all of them.
Having the kernel produce text doesn't cost much, and is IMHO well worth
it. If you want a binary interface, system calls are there.
p.