Description:
mysqld --verbose --help sorts entries in the help message so that they appear in order by long option name.
MySQL client programs do not do so, which often results in --help output that is confusing and more difficult to use than it need be. If you don't see an option where you expect it, it can be difficult to determine whether you simply overlooked it somewhere else, or whether it's just not present at all.
Here's an example, using 5.6.11 mysql --help
...
-v, --verbose Write more. (-v -v -v gives the table output format).
-V, --version Output version information and exit.
-w, --wait Wait and retry if connection is down.
--connect-timeout=# Number of seconds before connection timeout.
--max-allowed-packet=#
The maximum packet length to send to or receive from
server.
--net-buffer-length=#
The buffer size for TCP/IP and socket communication.
--select-limit=# Automatic limit for SELECT when using --safe-updates.
--max-join-size=# Automatic limit for rows in a join when using
--safe-updates.
--secure-auth Refuse client connecting to server if it uses old
(pre-4.1.1) protocol.
(Defaults to on; use --skip-secure-auth to disable.)
--server-arg=name Send embedded server this as a parameter.
--show-warnings Show warnings after every statement.
--plugin-dir=name Directory for client-side plugins.
--default-auth=name Default authentication client-side plugin to use.
--histignore=name A colon-separated list of patterns to keep statements
from getting logged into mysql history.
--binary-mode By default, ASCII '\0' is disallowed and '\r\n' is
translated to '\n'. This switch turns off both features,
and also turns off parsing of all clientcommands except
\C and DELIMITER, in non-interactive mode (for input
piped to mysql or loaded using the 'source' command).
This is necessary when processing output from mysqlbinlog
that may contain blobs.
--server-public-key-path=name
File path to the server public RSA key in PEM format.
...
If you were looking for --binary-mode, you would not expect to find it at the end of the option list.
How to repeat:
mysql --help
But other programs have similar problems.
Suggested fix:
Maybe use whatever mechanism mysqld uses to sort its --help output?
Description: mysqld --verbose --help sorts entries in the help message so that they appear in order by long option name. MySQL client programs do not do so, which often results in --help output that is confusing and more difficult to use than it need be. If you don't see an option where you expect it, it can be difficult to determine whether you simply overlooked it somewhere else, or whether it's just not present at all. Here's an example, using 5.6.11 mysql --help ... -v, --verbose Write more. (-v -v -v gives the table output format). -V, --version Output version information and exit. -w, --wait Wait and retry if connection is down. --connect-timeout=# Number of seconds before connection timeout. --max-allowed-packet=# The maximum packet length to send to or receive from server. --net-buffer-length=# The buffer size for TCP/IP and socket communication. --select-limit=# Automatic limit for SELECT when using --safe-updates. --max-join-size=# Automatic limit for rows in a join when using --safe-updates. --secure-auth Refuse client connecting to server if it uses old (pre-4.1.1) protocol. (Defaults to on; use --skip-secure-auth to disable.) --server-arg=name Send embedded server this as a parameter. --show-warnings Show warnings after every statement. --plugin-dir=name Directory for client-side plugins. --default-auth=name Default authentication client-side plugin to use. --histignore=name A colon-separated list of patterns to keep statements from getting logged into mysql history. --binary-mode By default, ASCII '\0' is disallowed and '\r\n' is translated to '\n'. This switch turns off both features, and also turns off parsing of all clientcommands except \C and DELIMITER, in non-interactive mode (for input piped to mysql or loaded using the 'source' command). This is necessary when processing output from mysqlbinlog that may contain blobs. --server-public-key-path=name File path to the server public RSA key in PEM format. ... If you were looking for --binary-mode, you would not expect to find it at the end of the option list. How to repeat: mysql --help But other programs have similar problems. Suggested fix: Maybe use whatever mechanism mysqld uses to sort its --help output?