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From: gwyn@brl-vld@sri-unix.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.unix-wizards
Subject: Re:  stdio buffering considered harmful
Message-ID: <3930@sri-arpa.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 13-Aug-83 00:07:13 EDT
Article-I.D.: sri-arpa.3930
Posted: Sat Aug 13 00:07:13 1983
Date-Received: Mon, 8-Aug-83 03:30:56 EDT
Lines: 16

From:      Doug Gwyn (VLD/VMB) <gwyn@brl-vld>

Your approach certainly seems to assume the least about the details of
any particular STDIO package's buffering algorithm, although it entails
a lot of effort on the part of the programmer (which I find acceptable,
but others haven't).

HOWEVER, some brain-damaged STDIO packages will not let you buffer more
than a line at a time to terminals (and maybe pipes) even via setbuf().
Your suggestions still work in such a case, and that is the best one
could hope for given that STDIO implementation.  It is a pity, though,
that one can't buffer up a screenload of output to a terminal when he is
already taking such pains to setbuf() and fflush() appropriately.

It might be useful for you to re-post your memo on the subject, for
those who haven't been receiving this list very long.