a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z
Description: POSIX-compliant shell
The Debian Almquist Shell (dash) is a lightweight POSIX-compliant shell
derived from ash.
.
It can be usefully installed as /bin/sh (because it executes scripts
faster than bash), or as the default shell for the superuser. It
depends on fewer libraries than bash, and is therefore less likely to
be affected by an upgrade problem or a disk failure. It is also
useful for checking the POSIX compliance of scripts.
Description: The Debian Almquist Shell
"dash" is a POSIX compliant shell that is much smaller than "bash".
We take advantage of that by making it the shell on the installation
root floppy, where space is at a premium.
.
It can be usefully installed as /bin/sh (because it executes scripts
somewhat faster than "bash"), or as the default shell either of root
or of a second user with a userid of 0 (because it depends on fewer
libraries, and is therefore less likely to be affected by an upgrade
problem or a disk failure). It is also useful for checking that a
script uses only POSIX syntax.
.
"bash" is a better shell for most users, since it has some nice
features absent from "dash", and is a required part of the system.
--- 41245 Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970
+++ 1518 Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970
@@ -1,9 +1,14 @@
-POSIX-compliant shell
- The Debian Almquist Shell (dash) is a lightweight POSIX-compliant shell
- derived from ash.
+The Debian Almquist Shell
+ "dash" is a POSIX compliant shell that is much smaller than "bash".
+ We take advantage of that by making it the shell on the installation
+ root floppy, where space is at a premium.
.
It can be usefully installed as /bin/sh (because it executes scripts
- faster than bash), or as the default shell for the superuser. It
+ somewhat faster than "bash"), or as the default shell either of root
- depends on fewer libraries than bash, and is therefore less likely to
+ or of a second user with a userid of 0 (because it depends on fewer
- be affected by an upgrade problem or a disk failure. It is also
+ libraries, and is therefore less likely to be affected by an upgrade
- useful for checking the POSIX compliance of scripts.
+ problem or a disk failure). It is also useful for checking that a
+ script uses only POSIX syntax.
+ .
+ "bash" is a better shell for most users, since it has some nice
+ features absent from "dash", and is a required part of the system.