"The Art of Unix Programming, Chapter 10 says:

     -V: Version (without argument). Display program’s version on standard output and exit (often also prints compiled-in configuration details as well). Examples:     gcc(1), flex(1), hostname(1), many others."

This is incorrect, at least in my Fedora machine.  Neither 'gcc' or 'make' allow upper-case -V.
Both allow lower-case -v as well as --version.  'clang' likewise. 'latex' likewise.
(Note that gcc -v and gcc --version produce different output, though both include
the version number.)

I don't understand the argument against using --version.  There are some programs that
understand -version but don't understand --version, but if you're going to change them to emit
the LOSE forms you can also change them to understand --version.
--
	--Per Bothner
xxxxxx@bothner.com   http://per.bothner.com/