>> It is not an error for the script to "choose" not to start dnsmasq.

I don't know what kind of bizzarro world you live in.

If a program  is called for a specific purpose and it "chooses" not to
do what it was requested to do,

reports no problems, doesn't do that job, and cannot even be bothered to
report that it did not do what it

was requested to do, it is broken.


Computer programs are supposed to report that they succeeded or failed
at the requested action, they don't make people guess and they don't get
to pick alternative actions.  They are not supposed to report the
requested action had no error if they didn't do the job.  Anybody who
thinks otherwise is wrong.

>>What error occurred? As far as I can see no error has occurred.

The program failed to perform the requested action. That is an error.

>> This would break everyone else who relies upon the established
behavior. I would be immediately reporting such a thing as a grave
bug.

Any program or system that would break because a problem is actually
reported has its' own problems.

>>What is it on your system that is failing ?

My system is fine. I was looking at a problem on another system. That
system is now fixed.


I will speak no more on the subject.

I am retreating to someplace where people make sense.


Goodbye,

Ken