ps: split tree traversal to a separate option

[pstef]

Summary

The first step is to revert ca8c0d5e811048ad67d0955642c5b486e9c0f3d2
Then this feature can be introduced as a separate option "D".
It takes an optional parameter string that can request descension or ascension by containing either '$' or '^' respectively. We can choose other characters if demand appears.
I intend to update the manual page in a later revision.

[jamie_catflap.org]

Your decision is fine to me, but as I mentioned in the email, if your change has been live (in current at least) for a few years, maybe it would cause more problems now to revert it? Especially as the option you chose initially does indeed imply "descendency"

I didn't mean to be such a pain in the wotsit!

For my case, I'd be happy enough if the new proposals for '-d' and '-D' were swapped around -- with '-D' (or whatever you choose) described in the manual page as the PID like grouping and tree structure of "-d" but without any implicit dependency calculations. - so really, just a sorting option.

Or, as I mentioned, maybe an equivalent "ascendancy" option? :-)

It's obviously completely up to you, but I'm willing to contribute to submitting patches etc.

[jamie_catflap.org]

Oh! I should have checked the new patch more closely before posting. I see you've added an ascending option!

[jamie_catflap.org]

I've just confirmed, that your patch (once I add the corresponding "-o" options) allows me to recreate the main functionality of my script with the single command "ps -D'^' -p .... " which is brilliant! - You guessed at my use case before I told you!

Again, as for the option name change, not that I matter, but I don't care if you revert '-d' and add the new option, or continue with your current plan, but I'll feel guilty if you change it back and even more people scream at you :-)

Cheers!

[pstef]

Follow advice from Jamie and use -D up and -D down.

[pstef]

Add -D both.

[pstef]

1. -D doesn't imply -d anymore. I found that to be unnecessarily limiting, now users can decide on the visual format.
2. The usage output and the manual page are updated.