NetBSD Problem Report #59941

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Date: Sun, 25 Jan 2026 09:39:49 +0000 (UTC)
From: liman@cafax.se
Reply-To: liman@cafax.se
To: gnats-bugs@NetBSD.org
Subject: Pkg "static-tcsh" does not support UTF-8 input.
X-Send-Pr-Version: www-1.0
X-From4GNATS: "liman@cafax.se via gnats" <gnats-admin@NetBSD.org>

>Number:         59941
>Category:       pkg
>Synopsis:       Pkg "static-tcsh" does not support UTF-8 input.
>Confidential:   no
>Severity:       non-critical
>Priority:       low
>Responsible:    pkg-manager
>State:          open
>Class:          sw-bug
>Submitter-Id:   net
>Arrival-Date:   Sun Jan 25 09:40:00 +0000 2026
>Last-Modified:  Tue Jan 27 22:40:01 +0000 2026
>Originator:     Lars-Johan Liman
>Release:        NetBSD 10.1/pkgsrc-10.1 (probably 1025Q4)
>Organization:
Cafax AB
>Environment:
NetBSD server.liman.net 10.1 NetBSD 10.1 (GENERIC) #0: Mon Dec 16 13:08:11 UTC 2024  mkrepro@mkrepro.NetBSD.org:/usr/src/sys/arch/amd64/compile/GENERIC amd64

(but it seems to be platform independent.)
>Description:
(I thought I had reported this, but I cannot find in the PR DB, so trying again ...)

When using tcsh from the package "static-tcsh", the shell does not accept UTF-8 input on the command line. When using tcsh from the (dynamically linked) package "tcsh" it does. Something must be different in the build processes, but I don't know what.

I've seen the problem for a loooong time (10 years? 20 years?). I thought it was a drawback with tcsh on NetBSD in general, but I just realised it's limited to the static-tcsh package.

It is not platform-dependant. I see the same problem on my amd64 (PC) and evbarm (Raspberry Pi) machines.
>How-To-Repeat:
# tail -1 /usr/pkg/etc/pkgin/repositories.conf      <--- checking pkgin config
http://cdn.netbsd.org/pub/pkgsrc/packages/NetBSD/amd64/10.1/All

# setenv LANG en_US.UTF-8

(... or "LANG=en_US.UTF-8; export LANG", if starting from a
Bourne-type shell)

# pkgin install tcsh
... ...
# /usr/pkg/bin/tcsh
# öäååöÖÄÅÄÖ   <--- typing random UTF-8 characters, works fine
öäååöÖÄÅÄÖ: Command not found.  <--- as expected!
# exit
exit

# pkgin rm tcsh
... ...
# /usr/pkg/bin/tcsh              <--- verifying that tcsh has been removed
/usr/pkg/bin/tcsh: Command not found.

# pkgin install static-tcsh
... ...
# /usr/pkg/bin/tcsh
#            <--- trying to type the same as above, nothing happens.
# exit
exit
>Fix:
Nope. Sorry.

>Audit-Trail:
From: Robert Elz <kre@munnari.OZ.AU>
To: gnats-bugs@netbsd.org, pkgsrc-bugs@netbsd.org
Cc: 
Subject: Re: pkg/59941: Pkg "static-tcsh" does not support UTF-8 input.
Date: Mon, 26 Jan 2026 19:45:59 +0700

     Date:        Sun, 25 Jan 2026 09:40:00 +0000 (UTC)
     From:        =22liman=40cafax.se via gnats=22 <gnats-admin=40NetBSD.o=
 rg>
     Message-ID:  <20260125094000.86B6B1A923F=40mollari.NetBSD.org>


   =7C When using tcsh from the package =22static-tcsh=22,
   =7C the shell does not accept UTF-8 input on the command line.

 I believe that our locale code (in libc) requires dynamic linking
 in order to work - with a statically linked binary, dynamic linking
 doesn't work, and so locales don't work either.

 Whether there are any plans to do anything about that I have no idea,
 as best I can tell, no-one is really brave enough to go anywhere near
 the locale code.

 kre

From: Lars-Johan Liman <liman@cafax.se>
To: "Robert Elz via gnats" <gnats-admin@NetBSD.org>
Cc: pkg-manager@netbsd.org, pkgsrc-bugs@netbsd.org,  gnats-bugs@netbsd.org
Subject: Re: pkg/59941: Pkg "static-tcsh" does not support UTF-8 input.
Date: Tue, 27 Jan 2026 08:46:28 +0100

 Greetings, Robert!

 Long time no see!

 Robert Elz <kre@munnari.OZ.AU> 2026-01-26 12:50 [+0000]:
 >  I believe that our locale code (in libc) requires dynamic linking
 >  in order to work - with a statically linked binary, dynamic linking
 >  doesn't work, and so locales don't work either.

 >  Whether there are any plans to do anything about that I have no idea,
 >  as best I can tell, no-one is really brave enough to go anywhere near
 >  the locale code.

 LOL! OK, I see. Thank you! That's a somewhat surprising explanation, but
 a technically solid one.

 If that's the case, you may close this case, but I suggest that you
 might want to add to the pkgsrc DESCRIPTION file that this it doesn't
 support locales. While you're at it, possibly also remove "available
 build options: nls, Use native language support." ... which, as I now
 understand it, doesn't work.

 (In any case, I just noted that _all_ programs in /bin are dynamically
 linked these days, so maybe the days of statically linked login shells
 are over? I just have to grow up, I guess. ;-) )

 				Cheers,
 				  /Liman

From: Robert Elz <kre@munnari.OZ.AU>
To: Lars-Johan Liman <liman@cafax.se>
Cc: pkg-manager@netbsd.org, pkgsrc-bugs@netbsd.org, gnats-bugs@netbsd.org
Subject: Re: pkg/59941: Pkg "static-tcsh" does not support UTF-8 input.
Date: Tue, 27 Jan 2026 17:03:39 +0700

     Date:        Tue, 27 Jan 2026 08:46:28 +0100
     From:        Lars-Johan Liman <liman@cafax.se>
     Message-ID:  <22jyx3h50r.fsf@cloptop.liman.net>

   | Long time no see!

 Yes, many decades since I have been in Europe.

   | If that's the case, you may close this case,

 I'll leave that for now, in case someone wants to act on your suggestions.

   | but I suggest that you
   | might want to add to the pkgsrc DESCRIPTION file that this it doesn't
   | support locales.

 On NetBSD - pkgsrc supports more than that, on other systems it might
 work just fine, so:

   | While you're at it, possibly also remove "available
   | build options: nls, Use native language support." ... which, as I now
   | understand it, doesn't work.

 that might be inappropriate if it will work elsewhere.   I will leave
 it to those who deal with pkgsrc issues to work out what is the right
 way to handle this.

 kre


From: Lars-Johan Liman <liman@cafax.se>
To: "Robert Elz via gnats" <gnats-admin@NetBSD.org>
Cc: pkg-manager@netbsd.org, pkgsrc-bugs@netbsd.org,  gnats-bugs@netbsd.org
Subject: Re: pkg/59941: Pkg "static-tcsh" does not support UTF-8 input.
Date: Tue, 27 Jan 2026 23:37:39 +0100

 gnats-admin@NetBSD.org 2026-01-27 10:10 [+0000]:
 >  I'll leave that for now, in case someone wants to act on your
 >  suggestions.

 Thanks.

 >  On NetBSD - pkgsrc supports more than that, on other systems it might
 >  work just fine, so:

 >    | While you're at it, possibly also remove "available
 >    | build options: nls, Use native language support." ... which, as I now
 >    | understand it, doesn't work.

 >  that might be inappropriate if it will work elsewhere.   I will leave
 >  it to those who deal with pkgsrc issues to work out what is the right
 >  way to handle this.

 Good point! Please do!

 				Cheers,
 				  /Liman

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