What is a unix command that will always return nothing no matter what parameters are given to it?

Question

I want to put it at the top of a unix executable. right after the #!

I know it seems silly, but I would like suggestions.

Answer 1

maybe

 abort //does not return

or possibly

test true //returns 0
test false // returns 1
test       // returns 1

Answer 2

You could try cat /dev/null

"[T]he null device is a special file that discards all data written to it . . . and provides no data to any process that reads from it"

Answer 3

Why not make your own in the same directory?

Answer 4

Most systems have a /usr/bin/false

NAME
     false -- Return false value.

SYNOPSIS
     false

DESCRIPTION
     The false utility always exits with a nonzero exit code.

SEE ALSO
     csh(1), sh(1), true(1)

STANDARDS
     The false utility conforms to IEEE Std 1003.2-1992 (``POSIX.2'').

Answer 5

Sounds like a job for the "colon" built-in

   : [arguments]
         No  effect;  the command does nothing beyond expanding arguments
         and performing any specified redirections.  A zero exit code  is
         returned.

Answer 6

try empty backquotes

``

echo $?

gives 0 for this.