Bug#391717: [Adduser-devel] Bug#391717: gender in /etc/passwd

Marc Haber mh+debian-packages at zugschlus.de
Sun Oct 8 11:24:33 UTC 2006


On Sun, Oct 08, 2006 at 12:13:31PM +0200, Robert Millan wrote:
> Would it be possible to extend the 5th field of /etc/passwd to include gender
> information?  This is very useful for localised programs in languages that
> make gender distinction.  For example in Catalan, many sentences are constructed
> differently when addressing a male than when addressing a female.
> 
> If you like the idea, I can send a patch for adduser.

What do you intend to change in adduser? adduser does not use the
gecos field itself, it only interfaces to the low-level tools, most
often the tools from the shadow package.

Also, be aware that there is a de facto standard for the contents of
the GECOS field which - IIRC - does not have provisions for a gender
field.

Greetings
Marc

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