NAME
shellexp - match string against a cruft filter pattern
SYNOPSIS
extern int shellexp(const char *string, const char *pattern);
DESCRIPTION
The shellexp() function is similar to fnmatch(3), but works with cruft
patterns instead of standard glob(7) patterns. The function returns a
true value if string matches the cruft pattern pattern, and a false
value (0) otherwise. Returns -1 in case of pattern syntax error.
Cruft patterns are similar to glob(7) patterns, but are not fully
compatible. The following special characters are supported:
? (a question mark)
matches exacly one character of string other than a slash.
* matches zero or more characters of string other than a slash.
/** or /**/
matches zero or more path components in string. Please note
that you can only use ** when directly following a slash, and
furthermore, only when either directly preceding a slash or at
the very end of pattern. A ** followed by anything other than a
slash makes pattern invalid. A ** following anything else than a
slash reduces it to having the same effect as *.
[character-class]
Matches any character between the brackets exactly once. Named
character classes are NOT supported. If the first character of
the class is ! or ^, then the meaning is inverted (matches any
character NOT listed between the brackets). If you want to
specify a literal closing bracket in the class, then specify it
as the first (or second, if you want to negate) character after
the opening bracket. Also, simple ASCII-order ranges are
supported using a dash character (see examples section).
Any other character matches itself.
EXAMPLES
/a/b*/*c
matches /a/b/xyz.c, as well as /a/bcd/.c, but not /a/b/c/d.c.
/a/**/*.c
matches all of the following: /a/a.c, /a/b/a.c, /a/b/c/a.c and
/a/b/c/d/a.c.
/a/[0-9][^0-9]*
matches /a/1abc, but not /a/12bc.
BUGS
Uses constant-length 1000 byte buffers to hold filenames. Also uses
recursive function calls, which are not very efficient. Does not
validate the pattern before matching, so any pattern errors (unbalanced
brackets or misplaced **) are only reported when and if the matching
algorithm reaches them.
SEE ALSO
fnmatch(3), glob(3), cruft(8) and dash-search(1).
AUTHOR
This manual page was written by Marcin Owsiany <porridge@debian.org>,
for the Debian GNU/Linux system (but may be used by others).
October 17, 2007