Command prompt utilities should have a readable help message
Today I had to display ILMerge's help information (btw, ILMerge does merge assemblies in a single assembly and it is a must have free utility produced by Microsoft Research labs). This is the output I've got:
C:\Progs\Vodovodi\Vodovodi.Utilities\AddPrefix\bin\Release>"C:\Program Files\Mic
rosoft\ILMerge\ILMerge.exe"
Usage: ilmerge [/lib:directory]* [/log[:filename]] [/keyfile:filename [/delaysig
n]] [/internalize[:filename]] [/t[arget]:(library|exe|winexe)] [/closed] [/ndebu
g] [/ver:version] [/copyattrs [/allowMultiple]] [/xmldocs] [/attr:filename] [/ta
rgetplatform:<version>[,<platformdir>] | /v1 | /v1.1 | /v2] [/useFullPublicKeyFo
rReferences] [/wildcards] [/zeroPeKind] [/allowDup:type]* /out:filename <primary
assembly> [<other assemblies>...]
Clear, isn't it? Absolutely not - it is an unreadable mess. It is very obvious that this fine tool was written by scientists who don't care about friendly messages. They should use at least new lines!
C:\Progs\Vodovodi\Vodovodi.Utilities\AddPrefix\bin\Release>"C:\Program Files\Mic
rosoft\ILMerge\ILMerge.exe"
Usage:
ilmerge
[/lib:directory]*
[/log[:filename]]
[/keyfile:filename
[/delaysign]]
[/internalize[:filename]]
[/t[arget]:(library|exe|winexe)]
[/closed]
[/ndebug]
[/ver:version]
[/copyattrs [/allowMultiple]]
[/xmldocs]
[/attr:filename]
[/targetplatform:<version>[,<platformdir>] | /v1 | /v1.1 | /v2]
[/useFullPublicKeyForReferences]
[/wildcards]
[/zeroPeKind]
[/allowDup:type]*
/out:filename <primary assembly> [<other assemblies>...]
So, a simple \r\n does make a huge difference. And there are plenty of fine tools/applications with a great engine and with crappy UI out there. I won't even mention Dotfuscator at this point.