bash aliases for 'ls' in ~/.bash_aliases file overridden by ~/.bashrc

[what_if]

Binary package hint: bash

lsb_release -rd
    Description: Ubuntu 9.04
    Release: 9.04
------------------------------------------
apt-cache policy bash
bash:
  Installed: 3.2-5ubuntu1
  Candidate: 3.2-5ubuntu1
  Version table:
 *** 3.2-5ubuntu1 0
        500 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com jaunty/main Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status
---------------------------------------------

What I expected:
I set an alias for 'ls' using the ~/.bash_aliases file but the alias was being overridden and therefore failing to work as expected. No matter what I put into the .bash_aliases file, it was being overridden to "ls=ls --color=auto".

What I found:
In the file ~/.bashrc, the call to ~/.bash_aliases is before setting the alias "ls=ls --color=auto". The order of these steps is an error as the .bash_aliases file should override any and all system-set aliases.

Recommended fix:
+++ Modify the file /etc/skel/.bashrc from the following

----cut-----
# Alias definitions.
# You may want to put all your additions into a separate file like
# ~/.bash_aliases, instead of adding them here directly.
# See /usr/share/doc/bash-doc/examples in the bash-doc package.

#if [ -f ~/.bash_aliases ]; then
# . ~/.bash_aliases
#fi

# enable color support of ls and also add handy aliases
if [ -x /usr/bin/dircolors ]; then
    eval "`dircolors -b`"
    alias ls='ls --color=auto'
    #alias dir='dir --color=auto'
    #alias vdir='vdir --color=auto'

    #alias grep='grep --color=auto'
    #alias fgrep='fgrep --color=auto'
    #alias egrep='egrep --color=auto'
fi
----cut----

+++ Change to the following:

----cut----
# enable color support of ls and also add handy aliases
if [ -x /usr/bin/dircolors ]; then
    eval "`dircolors -b`"
    alias ls='ls --color=auto'
    #alias dir='dir --color=auto'
    #alias vdir='vdir --color=auto'

    #alias grep='grep --color=auto'
    #alias fgrep='fgrep --color=auto'
    #alias egrep='egrep --color=auto'
fi

# Alias definitions.
# You may want to put all your additions into a separate file like
# ~/.bash_aliases, instead of adding them here directly.
# See /usr/share/doc/bash-doc/examples in the bash-doc package.

if [ -f ~/.bash_aliases ]; then
    . ~/.bash_aliases
fi
----cut----

Putting the call to ~/.bash_aliases after setting the 'ls' alias allows the user to override the alias to 'ls' as they see fit. Given that 'ls' is a heavily used command it is also highly likely to be modified using an alias.

Not really another bug, but while we are fixing minor bugs... Why is the call to ~/.bash_aliases commented out by default? I see no issues in un-commenting the call to ~/.bash_aliases in .bashrc by default thereby saving admin's the step of un-commenting it themselves.

Attached is the modified file intended to replace /etc/skel/.bashrc. I see no point in submitting a patch for a 100-line text file, so this was the easy route.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

This bug was fixed in the package bash - 4.0-4ubuntu1

---------------
bash (4.0-4ubuntu1) karmic; urgency=low

  * Merge with Debian; remaining changes:
    - Build from the upstream sources, build the documentation in info format.
    - /etc/skel/.bashrc: eval lesspipe.
  * Changes to the skeleton .bashrc:
    - Source .bash_aliases after defining aliases. LP: #400686.
    - Enable color support for grep. LP: #386502.
  * The bash docs now describe uname -s not having any effect on many
    systems. LP: #378595.
  * Don't ship an info dir file. LP: #358932.
  * Fix some lintian warnings.

bash (4.0-4) unstable; urgency=low

  * Apply upstream patches 024 - 028.
    - patch 028 closes: #519165. bash-4.0 reverted to the historical
      shell behavior of raising an error when $@ or $* was expanded
      after `set -u' had been executed and there were no positional
      parameters. The Posix working group has since clarified the
      standard's position on the issue, and $@ and $* are now the only
      variables, parameters, or special parameters that do not raise an
      error when unset if set -u is enabled.
  * Enable net redirections, now that bash isn't the default shell
    anymore. LP: #215034.
  * Changes to the skeleton .bashrc:
    - Fix example lines in /etc/bash.bashrc to enable bash completion.
      Closes: #523706, #522857.
    - Don't export HISTCONTROL in bashrc. Closes: #540371.
    - Support user dircolors settings in ~/.dircolors. Closes: #506213.

bash (4.0-3) experimental; urgency=low

  * Apply upstream patches 011 - 024.

bash (4.0-2) experimental; urgency=low

  * Apply upstream patches 001 - 010. Closes: #518289.
  * Fix insecure temp file handling in examples scripts. Closes: #509279.
  * /etc/skel.bashrc: Only source bash_completion, if posix mode is turned
    off. Closes: #498474.

bash (4.0-1ubuntu1) jaunty; urgency=low

  * Merge with Debian; remaining changes:
    - Build from the upstream sources, build the documentation in info format.
    - /etc/skel/.bashrc: eval lesspipe.

bash (4.0-1) experimental; urgency=low

  * New upstream version 4.0.

bash (4.0-0ubuntu1) jaunty; urgency=low

  * New upstream version 4.0 beta.

 -- Matthias Klose <email address hidden> Mon, 24 Aug 2009 12:06:59 +0200