On Tue, 31 Dec 2024 19:01:24 +1100, Clement Clarke <ad...@oscar-jol.com> wrote:
>Charles Mills kindly suggested that C++ was the answer. However, I think You cut me off in mid-suggestion! <g> I was not suggesting that C++ was the answer; I was suggesting that C++ std::string is the answer. Let me re-phrase the suggestion: Yes! You are absolutely right! What a great Idea: length-managed strings for C. Don't take my word for it that you are right and it is a great suggestion -- it's a standard! It's part of the C++ standard library. It's got everything you want and more: https://cplusplus.com/reference/string/string/ The internal details of the implementation are up to the library writer. Most libraries implement std::string as a header control block with pointers and lengths plus a dynamic buffer for the string itself. Here's something I did not know: most implementations are "bi-modal": rather than wasting a 24- or 32-byte header plus a dynamic buffer for very short strings, they put very short strings (20-ish bytes) right in the header instead of a buffer pointer. You can read about it on the Web. Answering some other questions on this thread: - Does C do mainframe record I/O? C doesn't do any I/O at all, but the IBM-supplied C library has excellent support for records, VSAM, pipes, etc., etc. You can read all about it in the Programming Guide. - Are there any C-only compilers any more? Here's a little secret: the IBM XLC C/C++ compiler (the old legacy one) is actually two completely different IBM-acquired products: a C-only compiler and a C++-only compiler. They are wrapped in common documentation and I think share a common pre-compiler (macro processor). The secret only shows up in one or two restrictions or implementation differences that are unique to one product or the other. Fun fact: the C compiler is written in C++ and the C++ compiler is written in C. Charles ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
