[GHC] #11749: Add long forms for multi-character short-form flags and possibly deprecate short forms (was: Add long forms for -keep-* flags and possibly deprecate short forms)

[GHC]

#11749: Add long forms for multi-character short-form flags and possibly deprecate
short forms
-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------
        Reporter:  bgamari           |                Owner:
            Type:  task              |               Status:  new
        Priority:  normal            |            Milestone:  8.2.1
       Component:  Compiler          |              Version:  7.10.3
      Resolution:                    |             Keywords:
Operating System:  Unknown/Multiple  |         Architecture:
                                     |  Unknown/Multiple
 Type of failure:  None/Unknown      |            Test Case:
      Blocked By:                    |             Blocking:
 Related Tickets:                    |  Differential Rev(s):
       Wiki Page:                    |
-------------------------------------+-------------------------------------
Description changed by bgamari:

@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
- The fact that GHC's `-keep-*` flags are short flags (e.g. begin with only
- one dash) is confusing and inconsistent with most of the rest of our
- flags, which use the typical gnu long form (with two dashes).
+ Many of GHC's long form flags use BSD-style single-dash prefixes (e.g.
+ `-keep-llvm-files`, `-rtsopts`). Many others use gnu-style double-dash
+ prefixes (e.g. `--version`, `--supported-languages`).
@@ -5,2 +5,3 @@
- I propose that we add `--keep-*` flags and consider deprecating the short
- forms at some point.
+ This is arguably more confusing than necessary. IMHO it seems reasonable
+ to add Gnu forms for our BSD-style flags (e.g. add `--keep-llvm-files`)
+ and consider deprecating the latter at some point in the future.

New description:

 Many of GHC's long form flags use BSD-style single-dash prefixes (e.g.
 `-keep-llvm-files`, `-rtsopts`). Many others use gnu-style double-dash
 prefixes (e.g. `--version`, `--supported-languages`).

 This is arguably more confusing than necessary. IMHO it seems reasonable
 to add Gnu forms for our BSD-style flags (e.g. add `--keep-llvm-files`)
 and consider deprecating the latter at some point in the future.

--

--
Ticket URL: <http://ghc.haskell.org/trac/ghc/ticket/11749#comment:1>
GHC <http://www.haskell.org/ghc/>
The Glasgow Haskell Compiler