Edit - Unix & Linux Stack Exchange

You are not logged in. Your edit will be placed in a queue until it is peer reviewed.

We welcome edits that make the post easier to understand and more valuable for readers. Because community members review edits, please try to make the post substantially better than how you found it, for example, by fixing grammar or adding additional resources and hyperlinks.

Required fields*

Rev

Yes, the OS imposes a limit in the number/size of arguments that can be passed. On modern Linux systems this is (gigantic)(linux.die.net/man/2/execve) (1/4 of stack size, 0x7FFFFFFF arguments). AFAIK bash itself doesn't impose any limit. My lists are much smaller, and my problem was caused by misunderstanding or mis-remembering how xargs works. Your solution is indeed the most robust, but it's overkill in this case.

alexis
– alexis

2014-01-20 10:06:10 +00:00
Commented Jan 20, 2014 at 10:06

Add a comment |

Correct minor typos or mistakes
Clarify meaning without changing it
Add related resources or links
Always respect the author’s intent
Don’t use edits to reply to the author

create code fences with backticks ` or tildes ~
```
like so
```
add language identifier to highlight code
```python
def function(foo):
print(foo)
```
put returns between paragraphs
for linebreak add 2 spaces at end
_italic_ or **bold**
indent code by 4 spaces
backtick escapes `like _so_`
quote by placing > at start of line
to make links (use https whenever possible)

<https://example.com>

[example](https://example.com)

<a href="https://example.com">example</a>

formatting help »
answering help »