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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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Linus Torvalds Injects Tabs To Thwart Kconfig Parsers Not Correctly Handling Them (www.phoronix.com)

submitted 7 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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Linus Torvalds added hidden tabs to Kconfig to challenge parsers that can't handle them.
Tabs were intentionally added to the common Kconfig file for page sizes to expose faulty parsers.
Torvalds believes parsers unable to handle tabs shouldn't be parsing kernel Kconfig files, aiming to force fixes.

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[+] [email protected] -1 points 7 months ago (2 children)

[deleted]

[–] rollmagma 12 points 7 months ago (2 children)

People who use spaces are not taping space space space space space space space space. Their tapping the tab key all the same.

[–] dohpaz42 7 points 7 months ago

Wait…. What? You mean I’ve….

[–] [email protected] 2 points 7 months ago

Sorry I didn't realize I had replied with I deleted my comment. I understand some editors allow you to set tab and you can set actual spaces, like in vi. However, personally I feel like hitting tab gives me the whitespace I want for readability already.

For programmatic parsing it is simple because it's just looking for an HT.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Yeah, same, but I always set my editor to insert spaces instead when I hit Tab, so that the spacing won't be different in other environments.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 7 months ago

I apologize. I didn't know I had replies when I deleted my post. Yeah I know you can set that behavior in some editors. And other than what I just replied with on another comment, I like tabs because I also don't have to worry about styling guides that some set down as '2 spaces' or '3 spaces' or '5 spaces' or whatever. It is basically just universally a horizontal tab.