[xml/sgml-pkgs] Bug#472894: docbook-utils: bashism in /bin/sh script

[Raphael Geissert]

Package: docbook-utils
Severity: important
Version: 0.6.14-1
User: debian-release at lists.debian.org
Usertags: goal-dash

Hello maintainer,

While performing an archive wide checkbashisms (from the 'devscripts' package) 
check I've found your package containing a /bin/sh script making 
use of a bashism.

checkbashisms' output:
> possible bashism in ./usr/bin/jw line 189 (echo -e):
>                   list) echo -e "List of allowed warning types (multiple -w
> options are allowed):\n" possible bashism in ./usr/bin/jw line 190 (echo
> -e):
>                         echo -e $SGML_WARNINGS_LIST
> possible bashism in ./usr/bin/jw line 198 (echo -e):
>                         echo -e $SGML_WARNINGS_LIST >&2
> possible bashism in ./usr/bin/jw line 204 (echo -e):
>                   list) echo -e "List of allowed error types (multiple -e
> options are allowed):\n" possible bashism in ./usr/bin/jw line 205 (echo
> -e):
>                         echo -e $SGML_ERRORS_LIST
> possible bashism in ./usr/bin/jw line 213 (echo -e):
>                         echo -e $SGML_ERRORS_LIST >&2
> possible bashism in ./usr/bin/jw line 218 (echo -e):
>   -h|--help)    echo -e "`basename $0` - Jade Wrapper\n"
> possible bashism in ./usr/bin/jw line 219 (echo -e):
>                 echo -e "$SGML_HELP_MESSAGE"
> possible bashism in ./usr/bin/jw line 222 (echo -e):
>   -v|--version) echo -e "$SGML_VERSION_MESSAGE"
> possible bashism in ./usr/bin/jw line 225 (echo -e):
>   -*)           echo -e "$SGML_HELP_MESSAGE" >&2
> possible bashism in ./usr/bin/jw line 236 (echo -e):
>                   echo -e "$SGML_HELP_MESSAGE" >&2
> possible bashism in ./usr/bin/jw line 246 (echo -e):
>   echo -e $SGML_HELP_MESSAGE >&2
> possible bashism in ./usr/bin/jw line 258 (echo -e):
>   echo -e $SGML_HELP_MESSAGE >&2
> possible bashism in ./usr/bin/jw line 270 (echo -e):
>   echo -e $SGML_HELP_MESSAGE >&2
> possible bashism in ./usr/bin/jw line 405 (echo -e):
>   echo -e $SGML_HELP_MESSAGE >&2

Not using bash (or a Debian Policy conformant shell interpreter which doesn't 
provide such an extra feature) as /bin/sh is likely to lead to errors or 
unexpected behaviours.
Please be aware that although bash is currently the default /bin/sh there's a 
release goal for Lenny to make dash the default /bin/sh[1].

If you want more information about dash as /bin/sh, you can read:
http://lists.debian.org/debian-release/2008/01/msg00189.html

For more information please refer to the Debian Policy section 10.4 supporting 
this argument at:
http://www.debian.org/doc/debian-policy/ch-files.html#s-scripts

Hints about how to fix bashisms:
Sometimes these bugs are already fixed in Ubuntu, look at the PTS.
If not already fixed you can read:
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/DashAsBinSh

[1]http://release.debian.org/lenny/goals.txt

Thank you,
-- 
Atomo64 - Raphael

Please avoid sending me Word, PowerPoint or Excel attachments.
See http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/no-word-attachments.html