Go to the first, previous, next, last section, table of contents.
Here is a table of long options used by GNU programs. It is surely
incomplete, but we aim to list all the options that a new program might
want to be compatible with. If you use names not already in the table,
please send gnu@gnu.org a list of them, with their
meanings, so we can update the table.
- `after-date'
-
`-N' in
tar
.
- `all'
-
`-a' in
du
, ls
, nm
, stty
, uname
,
and unexpand
.
- `all-text'
-
`-a' in
diff
.
- `almost-all'
-
`-A' in
ls
.
- `append'
-
`-a' in
etags
, tee
, time
;
`-r' in tar
.
- `archive'
-
`-a' in
cp
.
- `archive-name'
-
`-n' in
shar
.
- `arglength'
-
`-l' in
m4
.
- `ascii'
-
`-a' in
diff
.
- `assign'
-
`-v' in
gawk
.
- `assume-new'
-
`-W' in Make.
- `assume-old'
-
`-o' in Make.
- `auto-check'
-
`-a' in
recode
.
- `auto-pager'
-
`-a' in
wdiff
.
- `auto-reference'
-
`-A' in
ptx
.
- `avoid-wraps'
-
`-n' in
wdiff
.
- `background'
-
For server programs, run in the background.
- `backward-search'
-
`-B' in
ctags
.
- `basename'
-
`-f' in
shar
.
- `batch'
-
Used in GDB.
- `baud'
-
Used in GDB.
- `before'
-
`-b' in
tac
.
- `binary'
-
`-b' in
cpio
and diff
.
- `bits-per-code'
-
`-b' in
shar
.
- `block-size'
-
Used in
cpio
and tar
.
- `blocks'
-
`-b' in
head
and tail
.
- `break-file'
-
`-b' in
ptx
.
- `brief'
-
Used in various programs to make output shorter.
- `bytes'
-
`-c' in
head
, split
, and tail
.
- `c++'
-
`-C' in
etags
.
- `catenate'
-
`-A' in
tar
.
- `cd'
-
Used in various programs to specify the directory to use.
- `changes'
-
`-c' in
chgrp
and chown
.
- `classify'
-
`-F' in
ls
.
- `colons'
-
`-c' in
recode
.
- `command'
-
`-c' in
su
;
`-x' in GDB.
- `compare'
-
`-d' in
tar
.
- `compat'
-
Used in
gawk
.
- `compress'
-
`-Z' in
tar
and shar
.
- `concatenate'
-
`-A' in
tar
.
- `confirmation'
-
`-w' in
tar
.
- `context'
-
Used in
diff
.
- `copyleft'
-
`-W copyleft' in
gawk
.
- `copyright'
-
`-C' in
ptx
, recode
, and wdiff
;
`-W copyright' in gawk
.
- `core'
-
Used in GDB.
- `count'
-
`-q' in
who
.
- `count-links'
-
`-l' in
du
.
- `create'
-
Used in
tar
and cpio
.
- `cut-mark'
-
`-c' in
shar
.
- `cxref'
-
`-x' in
ctags
.
- `date'
-
`-d' in
touch
.
- `debug'
-
`-d' in Make and
m4
;
`-t' in Bison.
- `define'
-
`-D' in
m4
.
- `defines'
-
`-d' in Bison and
ctags
.
- `delete'
-
`-D' in
tar
.
- `dereference'
-
`-L' in
chgrp
, chown
, cpio
, du
,
ls
, and tar
.
- `dereference-args'
-
`-D' in
du
.
- `diacritics'
-
`-d' in
recode
.
- `dictionary-order'
-
`-d' in
look
.
- `diff'
-
`-d' in
tar
.
- `digits'
-
`-n' in
csplit
.
- `directory'
-
Specify the directory to use, in various programs. In
ls
, it
means to show directories themselves rather than their contents. In
rm
and ln
, it means to not treat links to directories
specially.
- `discard-all'
-
`-x' in
strip
.
- `discard-locals'
-
`-X' in
strip
.
- `dry-run'
-
`-n' in Make.
- `ed'
-
`-e' in
diff
.
- `elide-empty-files'
-
`-z' in
csplit
.
- `end-delete'
-
`-x' in
wdiff
.
- `end-insert'
-
`-z' in
wdiff
.
- `entire-new-file'
-
`-N' in
diff
.
- `environment-overrides'
-
`-e' in Make.
- `eof'
-
`-e' in
xargs
.
- `epoch'
-
Used in GDB.
- `error-limit'
-
Used in
makeinfo
.
- `error-output'
-
`-o' in
m4
.
- `escape'
-
`-b' in
ls
.
- `exclude-from'
-
`-X' in
tar
.
- `exec'
-
Used in GDB.
- `exit'
-
`-x' in
xargs
.
- `exit-0'
-
`-e' in
unshar
.
- `expand-tabs'
-
`-t' in
diff
.
- `expression'
-
`-e' in
sed
.
- `extern-only'
-
`-g' in
nm
.
- `extract'
-
`-i' in
cpio
;
`-x' in tar
.
- `faces'
-
`-f' in
finger
.
- `fast'
-
`-f' in
su
.
- `fatal-warnings'
-
`-E' in
m4
.
- `file'
-
`-f' in
info
, gawk
, Make, mt
, and tar
;
`-n' in sed
;
`-r' in touch
.
- `field-separator'
-
`-F' in
gawk
.
- `file-prefix'
-
`-b' in Bison.
- `file-type'
-
`-F' in
ls
.
- `files-from'
-
`-T' in
tar
.
- `fill-column'
-
Used in
makeinfo
.
- `flag-truncation'
-
`-F' in
ptx
.
- `fixed-output-files'
-
`-y' in Bison.
- `follow'
-
`-f' in
tail
.
- `footnote-style'
-
Used in
makeinfo
.
- `force'
-
`-f' in
cp
, ln
, mv
, and rm
.
- `force-prefix'
-
`-F' in
shar
.
- `foreground'
-
For server programs, run in the foreground;
in other words, don't do anything special to run the server
in the background.
- `format'
-
Used in
ls
, time
, and ptx
.
- `freeze-state'
-
`-F' in
m4
.
- `fullname'
-
Used in GDB.
- `gap-size'
-
`-g' in
ptx
.
- `get'
-
`-x' in
tar
.
- `graphic'
-
`-i' in
ul
.
- `graphics'
-
`-g' in
recode
.
- `group'
-
`-g' in
install
.
- `gzip'
-
`-z' in
tar
and shar
.
- `hashsize'
-
`-H' in
m4
.
- `header'
-
`-h' in
objdump
and recode
- `heading'
-
`-H' in
who
.
- `help'
-
Used to ask for brief usage information.
- `here-delimiter'
-
`-d' in
shar
.
- `hide-control-chars'
-
`-q' in
ls
.
- `idle'
-
`-u' in
who
.
- `ifdef'
-
`-D' in
diff
.
- `ignore'
-
`-I' in
ls
;
`-x' in recode
.
- `ignore-all-space'
-
`-w' in
diff
.
- `ignore-backups'
-
`-B' in
ls
.
- `ignore-blank-lines'
-
`-B' in
diff
.
- `ignore-case'
-
`-f' in
look
and ptx
;
`-i' in diff
and wdiff
.
- `ignore-errors'
-
`-i' in Make.
- `ignore-file'
-
`-i' in
ptx
.
- `ignore-indentation'
-
`-I' in
etags
.
- `ignore-init-file'
-
`-f' in Oleo.
- `ignore-interrupts'
-
`-i' in
tee
.
- `ignore-matching-lines'
-
`-I' in
diff
.
- `ignore-space-change'
-
`-b' in
diff
.
- `ignore-zeros'
-
`-i' in
tar
.
- `include'
-
`-i' in
etags
;
`-I' in m4
.
- `include-dir'
-
`-I' in Make.
- `incremental'
-
`-G' in
tar
.
- `info'
-
`-i', `-l', and `-m' in Finger.
- `initial'
-
`-i' in
expand
.
- `initial-tab'
-
`-T' in
diff
.
- `inode'
-
`-i' in
ls
.
- `interactive'
-
`-i' in
cp
, ln
, mv
, rm
;
`-e' in m4
;
`-p' in xargs
;
`-w' in tar
.
- `intermix-type'
-
`-p' in
shar
.
- `jobs'
-
`-j' in Make.
- `just-print'
-
`-n' in Make.
- `keep-going'
-
`-k' in Make.
- `keep-files'
-
`-k' in
csplit
.
- `kilobytes'
-
`-k' in
du
and ls
.
- `language'
-
`-l' in
etags
.
- `less-mode'
-
`-l' in
wdiff
.
- `level-for-gzip'
-
`-g' in
shar
.
- `line-bytes'
-
`-C' in
split
.
- `lines'
-
Used in
split
, head
, and tail
.
- `link'
-
`-l' in
cpio
.
- `lint'
-
- `lint-old'
-
Used in
gawk
.
- `list'
-
`-t' in
cpio
;
`-l' in recode
.
- `list'
-
`-t' in
tar
.
- `literal'
-
`-N' in
ls
.
- `load-average'
-
`-l' in Make.
- `login'
-
Used in
su
.
- `machine'
-
No listing of which programs already use this;
someone should check to
see if any actually do, and tell gnu@gnu.org.
- `macro-name'
-
`-M' in
ptx
.
- `mail'
-
`-m' in
hello
and uname
.
- `make-directories'
-
`-d' in
cpio
.
- `makefile'
-
`-f' in Make.
- `mapped'
-
Used in GDB.
- `max-args'
-
`-n' in
xargs
.
- `max-chars'
-
`-n' in
xargs
.
- `max-lines'
-
`-l' in
xargs
.
- `max-load'
-
`-l' in Make.
- `max-procs'
-
`-P' in
xargs
.
- `mesg'
-
`-T' in
who
.
- `message'
-
`-T' in
who
.
- `minimal'
-
`-d' in
diff
.
- `mixed-uuencode'
-
`-M' in
shar
.
- `mode'
-
`-m' in
install
, mkdir
, and mkfifo
.
- `modification-time'
-
`-m' in
tar
.
- `multi-volume'
-
`-M' in
tar
.
- `name-prefix'
-
`-a' in Bison.
- `nesting-limit'
-
`-L' in
m4
.
- `net-headers'
-
`-a' in
shar
.
- `new-file'
-
`-W' in Make.
- `no-builtin-rules'
-
`-r' in Make.
- `no-character-count'
-
`-w' in
shar
.
- `no-check-existing'
-
`-x' in
shar
.
- `no-common'
-
`-3' in
wdiff
.
- `no-create'
-
`-c' in
touch
.
- `no-defines'
-
`-D' in
etags
.
- `no-deleted'
-
`-1' in
wdiff
.
- `no-dereference'
-
`-d' in
cp
.
- `no-inserted'
-
`-2' in
wdiff
.
- `no-keep-going'
-
`-S' in Make.
- `no-lines'
-
`-l' in Bison.
- `no-piping'
-
`-P' in
shar
.
- `no-prof'
-
`-e' in
gprof
.
- `no-regex'
-
`-R' in
etags
.
- `no-sort'
-
`-p' in
nm
.
- `no-split'
-
Used in
makeinfo
.
- `no-static'
-
`-a' in
gprof
.
- `no-time'
-
`-E' in
gprof
.
- `no-timestamp'
-
`-m' in
shar
.
- `no-validate'
-
Used in
makeinfo
.
- `no-wait'
-
Used in
emacsclient
.
- `no-warn'
-
Used in various programs to inhibit warnings.
- `node'
-
`-n' in
info
.
- `nodename'
-
`-n' in
uname
.
- `nonmatching'
-
`-f' in
cpio
.
- `nstuff'
-
`-n' in
objdump
.
- `null'
-
`-0' in
xargs
.
- `number'
-
`-n' in
cat
.
- `number-nonblank'
-
`-b' in
cat
.
- `numeric-sort'
-
`-n' in
nm
.
- `numeric-uid-gid'
-
`-n' in
cpio
and ls
.
- `nx'
-
Used in GDB.
- `old-archive'
-
`-o' in
tar
.
- `old-file'
-
`-o' in Make.
- `one-file-system'
-
`-l' in
tar
, cp
, and du
.
- `only-file'
-
`-o' in
ptx
.
- `only-prof'
-
`-f' in
gprof
.
- `only-time'
-
`-F' in
gprof
.
- `output'
-
In various programs, specify the output file name.
- `output-prefix'
-
`-o' in
shar
.
- `override'
-
`-o' in
rm
.
- `overwrite'
-
`-c' in
unshar
.
- `owner'
-
`-o' in
install
.
- `paginate'
-
`-l' in
diff
.
- `paragraph-indent'
-
Used in
makeinfo
.
- `parents'
-
`-p' in
mkdir
and rmdir
.
- `pass-all'
-
`-p' in
ul
.
- `pass-through'
-
`-p' in
cpio
.
- `port'
-
`-P' in
finger
.
- `portability'
-
`-c' in
cpio
and tar
.
- `posix'
-
Used in
gawk
.
- `prefix-builtins'
-
`-P' in
m4
.
- `prefix'
-
`-f' in
csplit
.
- `preserve'
-
Used in
tar
and cp
.
- `preserve-environment'
-
`-p' in
su
.
- `preserve-modification-time'
-
`-m' in
cpio
.
- `preserve-order'
-
`-s' in
tar
.
- `preserve-permissions'
-
`-p' in
tar
.
- `print'
-
`-l' in
diff
.
- `print-chars'
-
`-L' in
cmp
.
- `print-data-base'
-
`-p' in Make.
- `print-directory'
-
`-w' in Make.
- `print-file-name'
-
`-o' in
nm
.
- `print-symdefs'
-
`-s' in
nm
.
- `printer'
-
`-p' in
wdiff
.
- `prompt'
-
`-p' in
ed
.
- `query-user'
-
`-X' in
shar
.
- `question'
-
`-q' in Make.
- `quiet'
-
Used in many programs to inhibit the usual output. Note: every
program accepting `--quiet' should accept `--silent' as a
synonym.
- `quiet-unshar'
-
`-Q' in
shar
- `quote-name'
-
`-Q' in
ls
.
- `rcs'
-
`-n' in
diff
.
- `re-interval'
-
Used in
gawk
.
- `read-full-blocks'
-
`-B' in
tar
.
- `readnow'
-
Used in GDB.
- `recon'
-
`-n' in Make.
- `record-number'
-
`-R' in
tar
.
- `recursive'
-
Used in
chgrp
, chown
, cp
, ls
, diff
,
and rm
.
- `reference-limit'
-
Used in
makeinfo
.
- `references'
-
`-r' in
ptx
.
- `regex'
-
`-r' in
tac
and etags
.
- `release'
-
`-r' in
uname
.
- `reload-state'
-
`-R' in
m4
.
- `relocation'
-
`-r' in
objdump
.
- `rename'
-
`-r' in
cpio
.
- `replace'
-
`-i' in
xargs
.
- `report-identical-files'
-
`-s' in
diff
.
- `reset-access-time'
-
`-a' in
cpio
.
- `reverse'
-
`-r' in
ls
and nm
.
- `reversed-ed'
-
`-f' in
diff
.
- `right-side-defs'
-
`-R' in
ptx
.
- `same-order'
-
`-s' in
tar
.
- `same-permissions'
-
`-p' in
tar
.
- `save'
-
`-g' in
stty
.
- `se'
-
Used in GDB.
- `sentence-regexp'
-
`-S' in
ptx
.
- `separate-dirs'
-
`-S' in
du
.
- `separator'
-
`-s' in
tac
.
- `sequence'
-
Used by
recode
to chose files or pipes for sequencing passes.
- `shell'
-
`-s' in
su
.
- `show-all'
-
`-A' in
cat
.
- `show-c-function'
-
`-p' in
diff
.
- `show-ends'
-
`-E' in
cat
.
- `show-function-line'
-
`-F' in
diff
.
- `show-tabs'
-
`-T' in
cat
.
- `silent'
-
Used in many programs to inhibit the usual output.
Note: every program accepting
`--silent' should accept `--quiet' as a synonym.
- `size'
-
`-s' in
ls
.
- `socket'
-
Specify a file descriptor for a network server to use for its socket,
instead of opening and binding a new socket. This provides a way to
run, in a nonpriveledged process, a server that normally needs a
reserved port number.
- `sort'
-
Used in
ls
.
- `source'
-
`-W source' in
gawk
.
- `sparse'
-
`-S' in
tar
.
- `speed-large-files'
-
`-H' in
diff
.
- `split-at'
-
`-E' in
unshar
.
- `split-size-limit'
-
`-L' in
shar
.
- `squeeze-blank'
-
`-s' in
cat
.
- `start-delete'
-
`-w' in
wdiff
.
- `start-insert'
-
`-y' in
wdiff
.
- `starting-file'
-
Used in
tar
and diff
to specify which file within
a directory to start processing with.
- `statistics'
-
`-s' in
wdiff
.
- `stdin-file-list'
-
`-S' in
shar
.
- `stop'
-
`-S' in Make.
- `strict'
-
`-s' in
recode
.
- `strip'
-
`-s' in
install
.
- `strip-all'
-
`-s' in
strip
.
- `strip-debug'
-
`-S' in
strip
.
- `submitter'
-
`-s' in
shar
.
- `suffix'
-
`-S' in
cp
, ln
, mv
.
- `suffix-format'
-
`-b' in
csplit
.
- `sum'
-
`-s' in
gprof
.
- `summarize'
-
`-s' in
du
.
- `symbolic'
-
`-s' in
ln
.
- `symbols'
-
Used in GDB and
objdump
.
- `synclines'
-
`-s' in
m4
.
- `sysname'
-
`-s' in
uname
.
- `tabs'
-
`-t' in
expand
and unexpand
.
- `tabsize'
-
`-T' in
ls
.
- `terminal'
-
`-T' in
tput
and ul
.
`-t' in wdiff
.
- `text'
-
`-a' in
diff
.
- `text-files'
-
`-T' in
shar
.
- `time'
-
Used in
ls
and touch
.
- `to-stdout'
-
`-O' in
tar
.
- `total'
-
`-c' in
du
.
- `touch'
-
`-t' in Make,
ranlib
, and recode
.
- `trace'
-
`-t' in
m4
.
- `traditional'
-
`-t' in
hello
;
`-W traditional' in gawk
;
`-G' in ed
, m4
, and ptx
.
- `tty'
-
Used in GDB.
- `typedefs'
-
`-t' in
ctags
.
- `typedefs-and-c++'
-
`-T' in
ctags
.
- `typeset-mode'
-
`-t' in
ptx
.
- `uncompress'
-
`-z' in
tar
.
- `unconditional'
-
`-u' in
cpio
.
- `undefine'
-
`-U' in
m4
.
- `undefined-only'
-
`-u' in
nm
.
- `update'
-
`-u' in
cp
, ctags
, mv
, tar
.
- `usage'
-
Used in
gawk
; same as `--help'.
- `uuencode'
-
`-B' in
shar
.
- `vanilla-operation'
-
`-V' in
shar
.
- `verbose'
-
Print more information about progress. Many programs support this.
- `verify'
-
`-W' in
tar
.
- `version'
-
Print the version number.
- `version-control'
-
`-V' in
cp
, ln
, mv
.
- `vgrind'
-
`-v' in
ctags
.
- `volume'
-
`-V' in
tar
.
- `what-if'
-
`-W' in Make.
- `whole-size-limit'
-
`-l' in
shar
.
- `width'
-
`-w' in
ls
and ptx
.
- `word-regexp'
-
`-W' in
ptx
.
- `writable'
-
`-T' in
who
.
- `zeros'
-
`-z' in
gprof
.
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