Git automatically uses a pager (less, by default) to paginate certain subcommands with long output — we should consider adding this feature to bitbake and using it for -e and possibly -S
If I understand correctly, this issue says that: - `bitbake -e` should use a pager like less, such that it resembles `bitbake -e | less` - make the pager configurable, so you can use something besides less. - `bitbake -S` should also use a configurable pager? What environment variables should be used to determine the pager?
The standard variable is "PAGER".
There's been some pushback about building pager support into bitbake, in favor of retaining the current approach of allowing the user to pipe to a paginator themselves. And there seems to be a precedent on pagination: http://lists.openembedded.org/pipermail/bitbake-devel/2015-March/005545.html Are we sure this is a feature we want?
git is mostly a non-interactive command, bitbake is different in that it can be longer running and interactive (e.g. knotty). I think having the user use a pager as/when necessary isn't too much of a hardship and avoids a ton of potential pitfalls.