emerge -pv output style

[Genone]

For portage-2.1_pre there is a new output style for showing use flags and other variables. While the display of these additional vars (like LINGUAS or VIDEO_CARDS) is generally accepted some other changes are currently discussed/reconsidered:

• changing the sort order from strictly alphabetic to a separation of activated and deactivated flags
  
• display of new/changed flags even without -v (can be disabled -q)
  
• removing the + prefix from activated flags
  
• prefixing the list of USE flags with USE=""
  

As this might not be very clear here are examples for both the old and new style (sorry, no colors):

New style

[jamesdick628]

I like the new style better. The separation makes it easier to see which flags are enabled/disabled, and putting USE= in front seems to make it look less cluttered.

[ph03n1x]

I like the new style better. But one could get rid of the USE=" which is just using up console space. I think it's clear that the following stuff are useflags.

[pablo_supertux]

[amne]

[Maedhros]

I'm going to be the first voice of dissent here then.

I don't like the new-style sorting - I find it easier to find USE flags if they're in strict alphabetical sorting; the colours are enough to differentiate them IMO. I also don't like the fact that enabling or disabling a flag changes its position in the list. I don't like displaying the USE flags without the -v option set either - I can use it when I want to see which USE flags are enabled, but there are times when I just want a list of packages to be installed. WIth some packages, e.g. PHP, there are so many USE flags that it gets in the way of what I want to see sometimes.

I don't really mind either way about prefixing enabled flags with a +, and while I think the display was slightly cleaner without the USE="" part, it makes sense if we're going to be able to see the other variables that can be enabled as well.
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[j-m]

[amne]

[omp]

[StringCheesian]

Same as omp.

"display of new/changed flags even without -v" sounds useful, but I'd probably keep using -v anyway to see flags I might want to change.

I'd like to be able to suppress USE="" in the output.

[ecatmur]

separating active/inactive: (alphabetical is good)
removing + from active:
prefixing USE="":
showing with -v:
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[Etal]

I don't like the USE="" and I actually like the +signs...
But otherwise I like it!
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[Reikinio]

I prefer the old style,

[gentoo_lan]

I like the idea of removing the + signs and adding the USE=. However I don't think it is necessary to show changed use flags in pretend mode they should only be shown in verbose mode. As long as changed use flags have a different color than I don't care if they are in alphabetical order or not.
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[Bad Penguin]

[Raftysworld]

Honestly, I like every improvement a bit better than the old style. Good work
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emerge --info
Portage 2.1.4 (default-linux/x86/dev/2007.1, gcc-4.2.2, glibc-2.7-r1, 2.6.24-gentoo i686)

[loki99]

[Marlo]

The new Style is very good and clear, congratulation to the idea.
One needs only habituation time for use and learn-time to read it.
In the doubt I prefer the old style because I got accustomed with this.

Ma
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[omp]

[loki99]

[SirYes]

New style. It's fun!

This change, in contrast to the recent forums change, seems very healthy.
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[jstubbs]

Unwittingly, I have created a poll on pretty much the same topic over at http://forums.gentoo.org/viewtopic-t-426033.html
My goal is more to get hard numbers specifically on the ordering change though so if you'd like to (re)cast your vote there as well as here I'd be much obliged.

[AllenJB]

[ausmusj1]

I definitely like the new (_pre3) style best - I was a bit surprised when I first saw the output, but I am really loving it. I tend to be a bit of a feature pig - I tend to look more to the disabled list to see if there's any cool or useful functionality that isn't going to be built in that I want - I'm less interested in what I've flagged previously to be enabled.

Another benefit to the new style - if you're on a terminal connection with no color capability, physically separating the enabled from the disabled allows the two groups to be seen more instinctively, once you know what you're looking for.

-James

[chutz]