On Fri, 16 Mar 2018, Shawn H Corey wrote: > On Fri, 16 Mar 2018 09:59:53 -0400 > "Michael P. Soulier" <msoulier [ at ] digitaltorque [ dot ] ca> wrote: > > > On 16/03/18 Robert P. J. Day said: > > > > > course i taught recently had a section on "xargs", emphasizing > > > its value(?) in being able to run a command in bite-size pieces > > > but, these days, is that really that much of an issue? > > > > My main use for it. > > > > git ls-files | xargs grep 'function_name' > > _______________________________________________ > > Linux mailing list > > Linux [ at ] lists [ dot ] oclug [ dot ] on [ dot ] ca > > http://oclug.on.ca/mailman/listinfo/linux > > > git ls-files -z | xargs -0 grep 'function_name' > > The -z separates the names with a ASCII NUL and the -0 (minus zero) > allows xarg to read them correctly. This is useful if the files have > spaces in their names. again, as i mentioned, i do understand the value of xargs because of the plethora of useful "tricks" like the above, but those features aside, the basic question is still, does xargs still have value *solely* for its ability to run commands in bite-size pieces? rday