Re: [LUG] Filename / Directory Names with Spaces in was: LUG Stuff...

[Mark Evans <mpe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Brough, Tom wrote:
> Clive Darke said:
>
>
> > Just a small thing I would like to correct.
> > "Linux does not like spaces in folder names" is not true, although many
> > scripts are badly written and cannot handle imbedded spaces in file or
> > directory (folder) names.  If you want imbedded spaces in a name, just
> > surround it in quotes (either ' or " will do).
>
>
> While this is all true I would personally discourage the use of spaces in
> file and directory (folder) names. Although spaces on a fixed font command
> line are very easy to see, they are a lot harder to identify in a
> proportional font. IMO at best it doesnt aid the programming or scripting
> process  and at worst it is a hinderance. By convention spaces have been
> used as delimiters for words and parameters in most natural languages,
> programming languages and command line interfaces, almost universally. Much

To the point where it is hard to come up with examples where this is not 
the case. Especially with natural languages.

> that I hate to bate Microsoft ;-) I curse the day that it unilaterally
> decided that spaces in filenames would be a neat idea.

So much so that Windows needs all sorts of kludges to handle this. 
Especially under VFAT, where it can be almost random which version of a 
filename winds up in a .LNK file or registry key. (It's even possible to 
get references of the form "C:\PROGRA~1\Some Program".)

> Of course once Microsoft sneezed the rest of the IT world had to catch a
> cold. Yes Ok it may look good to an end user, but as a programmer  /
> scripter it has caused no end of problems. And yes agreed a good scripter /
> programmer should be able to face these challenges, but they are not
> challenges for the common good, rather they are distractions that hamper
> real progress.

Using spaces in filenames also creates plenty of "fun" with HTML 
hyperlinks.

> Please, please, please, please, please avoid using spaces in file and
> directory names.

I find myself giving exactly the same instruction far too often :)

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