Argument list too long

[Ashley M. Kirchner]

    Question: at what point would commands such as 'ls', 'cp' and others 
consider the argument list too long?  The reason I'm asking is because 
I'm getting random results here.  One time 'ls' would tell it the 
argument list is too long when the file count in the folder reached 
around 2,000 files.  Another, like this morning, it let me go all the 
way to 2,600+ before complaining.  And just now it reached 1,900 files 
and already 'ls' is complaining.  That seems random to me.  Is there a 
set number that causes all of these commands to fail with 'Argument list 
too long' or what convoluted algorithm is used to figure it out?

-- 
W | It's not a bug - it's an undocumented feature.
  +--------------------------------------------------------------------
  Ashley M. Kirchner <mailto:ashley at pcraft.com>   .   303.442.6410 x130
  IT Director / SysAdmin / Websmith             .     800.441.3873 x130
  Photo Craft Imaging                       .     3550 Arapahoe Ave. #6
  http://www.pcraft.com ..... .  .    .       Boulder, CO 80303, U.S.A.