Re: Modes (was unbounded_string)

["Warren W. Gay VE3WWG" <ve3wwg@cogeco.ca>]

Jeff C, wrote:

> "Warren W. Gay VE3WWG" <ve3wwg_nospam@cogeco.ca> wrote in message
> news:Mb2jb.8531> Well, C returns a pointer, if you use getenv(2). However,
> there is no reason
> 
>>that ACT could not have converted this into a normal Ada string, which is
>>what I would have expected. Even in C, you are really expected to use
>>putenv or setenv to make a change. However, programmers have been
>>known to "cheat" and modify the string that the getenv pointer points to,
>>which works provided that the string does not require more length. But
>>even in C terms, IMHO, this is a bad practice.
> 
> Never assume that there is "no reason" for ACT or anyone else for that
> matter doing something without
> at least quickly looking at it. The start of the package says

Well, you assumed that I "assumed" there was "no reason". ;-)  I
never assumed "that" -- I simply did not understand the "why"
for it, which you now have cleared up 8-)

> -- This package tends to use fairly low-level Ada in order to not bring
> -- in large portions of the RTL. For example, functions return access
> -- to string as part of avoiding functions returning unconstrained types.
> 
> gnat.os_lib is useful but it probably should not be generally used within
> you code. It certainly would
> be nice if ACT provided a "thicker" version of the package (and perhaps if a
> few customers ask
> for it they will) but it appears that they had their reasons whey they
> originally set this up.

So now, we all know why B-)
-- 
Warren W. Gay VE3WWG
http://home.cogeco.ca/~ve3wwg