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From: tif@doorstop.austin.ibm.com (Paul Chamberlain)
Newsgroups: comp.unix.questions
Subject: Re: Get process name w/o using argv[0] in C function?
Message-ID: <3059@awdprime.UUCP>
Date: 6 Aug 90 17:54:29 GMT
References: <9220003@hpldsla.sid.hp.com> <3802@auspex.auspex.com> <1990Aug2.143551.7104@specialix.co.uk> <13476@yunexus.YorkU.CA> <1990Aug6.115204.20113@specialix.co.uk>
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Reply-To: tif@doorstop.austin.ibm.com (Paul Chamberlain)
Organization: IBM AWD, Austin, TX
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In article <1990Aug6.115204.20113@specialix.co.uk> jonb@specialix.co.uk (Jon Brawn) writes:
>davecb@yunexus.YorkU.CA (David Collier-Brown) writes:
>>   Er, that substitutes a globally callable function for a globally
>>referable variable.  Net gain? more code to do the same thing, value
>>is read-only.  
>    ^^^^^^^^^^
>Course its read only! When was the last time you wanted to change the name
>that you where invoked as? Shouldn't be allowed!

Humorous mis-interpretation here.  Try "the value of this is change is only
visual."  I agree that by using the function calls to save/retrieve the
program name, you have eliminated the global.  But this much effort for
such a trivial function is IMNHO inappropriate for anything besides a
class-room.

The strict rules of a class-room have been discussed here many times.  And
IMNHO they teach important large-project habits using near-trivial examples
due to the time limitations.  I think they expect you to eventually forget
these really really strict rules (for the small projects) but then remember
them when they are really necessary for the large-project stuff.

Is there a comp.edu group for the ensuing flames?

Paul Chamberlain | I do NOT represent IBM         tif@doorstop, sc30661@ausvm6
512/838-7008     | ...!cs.utexas.edu!ibmaus!auschs!doorstop.austin.ibm.com!tif