[setup] [PATCH] Redirect stdin from /dev/null when running postinstall scripts

[Max Bowsher]

Igor Pechtchanski wrote:
> On Tue, 14 Sep 2004, Max Bowsher wrote:
> 
>> Igor Pechtchanski wrote:
>>> Hi,
>>> 
>>> The patch below redirects stdin from /dev/null when running postinstall
>>> scripts, so that installation doesn't hang if a program called from a
>>> postinstall script decides to ask the user something.  AFAICS, this is
>>> against the CVS HEAD.
>>> Igor
...
>> 
>> I tried to test this patch, but I wasn't able to reproduce the hang even
>> before applying it !?
>> Could you explain how to reproduce the hang?
> 
> :-)  I never saw the hang, actually.  The patch is just common sense.

Indeed it is. Please go ahead and commit it.

> However, AFAIU, you need to call a program that reads stdin from the
> postinstall script.  Putting in a shell read should be enough, but
> apparently isn't -- try different shells, though, as they may be using
> different mechanisms for reading stdin.  The best thing to do would be to
> look at the texconfig source, and see exactly what *it* is using, as it
> definitely blocks.

It appears to be using /bin/sh and read - which is what I tested!?!?

And installing tetex-tiny worked just fine for me.

I'd be interested in a reproduction recipe if anyone has one...

Max.