Why does man print "gimme gimme gimme" at 00:30? (2017) (unix.stackexchange.com)

Article summary

The article appears to discuss a feature in the 'man' command that prints 'gimme gimme gimme' at 00:30, which was intended to trigger only in error cases but had an oversight. The feature has been removed. The discussion revolves around debugging techniques and Easter eggs in code. The 'man' command's behavior is compared to other debugging methods and tools.

Main themes

• Debugging techniques
• Easter eggs in code
• Man command behavior
• Error handling
• Code debugging tools

What commenters say

• The 'man' command's behavior of printing 'gimme gimme gimme' at 00:30 was a flawed feature that has been removed.
• Using distinctive markers like 'DEBUG' or initials can be helpful for debugging purposes.
• Some developers prefer using interactive debugger sessions, while others rely on print statements or logging.
• The 'man' command's behavior is not the only example of an Easter egg in code, and such features can be both amusing and problematic.
• Debugging can be challenging, especially in complex systems, and may require creative workarounds like inserting infinite loops or toggling GPIO pins.
• The use of version control hooks can help prevent unwanted code, such as debug markers, from being committed.
• Different debugging techniques, such as using breakpoints or logging, have their own advantages and disadvantages.
• Even with advanced debugging tools, print statements remain a reliable and widely used method for debugging.