Re: [PATCH 21.5] Add ID-FORMAT to file-attributes (Suggestions are welcome)
>>>> Stephen J Turnbull <stephen(a)xemacs.org> writes:
But the real reason for introducing a new function would be to allow
extension to new OS functionality in a consistent and backward-
compatible way.
OK. So I take it that you didn't like my three function proposal!
So your proposal is a function that returns a vector? And when we come
up with a new attribute for a file we append that to the vector making
it larger. Old code will just use the front of the vector so it will
not be affected.
On the downside of this arrangement is that future attributes might
take some time to get and then all file attributes calls will
suffer. The username and groupname requires two functions calls that
you can skip if you don't need them. But, hey, this is lisp so we take
performance hits in favor of getting more functionality in a
convenient way. Right? (To be clear I'm fine with that but I think the
issue should be raised.)
But I guess we can have the cake and eat it. Just add functions just
on top of POSIX interface (my three function proposal) and use those
for in the more general function serving you all attributes.
That's a good argument for abandoning XEmacs entirely, you know.
Except I don't think it's good enough, in either case. :-)
If we were to change all primitives in XEmacs to something unique and
much better that would be a good argument for all elispers to abandon
XEmacs.:-) Not to mention all work we would have to do ourselves when
syncing packages with upstream. So we must pick our fights I think.
Yours
--
%% Mats
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