Re: bin/53553: gpt biosboot forcibly prepends /usr/mdec to any other paht

[eric%cirr.com@localhost (Eric Schnoebelen)]

The following reply was made to PR bin/53553; it has been noted by GNATS.

From: eric%cirr.com@localhost (Eric Schnoebelen)
To: gnats-bugs%NetBSD.org@localhost
Cc: gnats-admin%netbsd.org@localhost, netbsd-bugs%netbsd.org@localhost
Subject: Re: bin/53553: gpt biosboot forcibly prepends /usr/mdec to any other paht
Date: Fri, 31 Aug 2018 11:28:52 -0500

 John Nemeth writes:
 -  On Aug 25, 10:20pm, eric%cirr.com@localhost wrote:
 -  } >Number:         53553
 -  } >Category:       bin
 -  } >Synopsis:       gpt biosboot forcibly prepends /usr/mdec to any othe=
 r paht
 -  } >Description:
 -  } 	Attempting to use a gpt(8) biosboot subcommand with a file
 -  } 	in any location other than /usr/mdec gets /usr/mdec forcibly
 -  } 	prepended to the path.
 -  =
 
 -       The code is:
 -  =
 
 -          if (bootpath =3D=3D NULL)
 -                  bp =3D strdup(DEFAULT_BOOTDIR "/" DEFAULT_BOOTCODE);
 -          else if (*bootpath =3D=3D '/')
 -                  bp =3D strdup(bootpath);
 -          else {
 -                  if (asprintf(&bp, "%s/%s", DEFAULT_BOOTDIR, bootpath) <=
  0)
 -                          bp =3D NULL;
 -          }
 -  =
 
 -  It would be easy enough to change the second part to see if the
 -  path starts with "." which is a common way of stopping the prepending
 -  of a default path.  I'm undecided if it should check for "/" anywhere
 -  in the path.  However, if that's what people think is best, I'm
 -  willing to make either change.  I checked the installboot source
 -  to see what it does, and it just uses the path as given.  I think
 -  adding a default path makes it somewhat more convenient to use.
 
 After a few days reflection, I would be happy if the current
 mechanisms were documented on the gpt(8) manual page.
 
 Given the lack of documentation there, and the first error when
 trying an unanchored path, I followed the common practice of
 prepending './' to try and anchor do the current directory.
 
 =46rom my perspective, either choice would be sufficent to remove
 the frustration I experienced.  However, the second might bring it into
 line with a large number of other tools. =
 
 
 Thanks,
 	Eric