Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!uwm.edu!uakari.primate.wisc.edu!brutus.cs.uiuc.edu!apple!sun-barr!newstop!texsun!texbell!nuchat!moray!urchin!p6.f506.n106.z1.fidonet.org!Bob.Stout
From: Bob.Stout@p6.f506.n106.z1.fidonet.org (Bob Stout)
Newsgroups: comp.lang.c++
Subject: Re: Newline hook needed in streams
Message-ID: <7142.259593A2@urchin.fidonet.org>
Date: 24 Dec 89 00:53:17 GMT
Sender: ufgate@urchin.fidonet.org (newsout1.26)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:106/506.6 - Fulcrum's Edge, Spring TX
Lines: 22

I've written an I/O stream class (actually it hasn't been fully "classified"  
yet since the initial application required C rather than C++) which allows  
user-installable stream filters analogous to internal pipes which could offer  
one solution. Currently I've implemented everything from simple case  
conversion filters though data encryption and compression/expansion filters.  
Filters are stackable with some restrictions. For example, one of my test  
files performs case conversion prior to encryption by simply installing the  
two filters back-to-back after the stream is opened. In another application, I  
wrote a screen capture utility which had to work in any PC text or graphics  
mode (there are a bunch of them). I used the new stream I/O to write the  
captured screen out and after everything else was debugged, I added one line  
to install a simple RLE compression filter which dropped my 115K EGA screen  
dumps down into the 10-25K range.

As a general purpose package, it's surprisingly efficient as written, but I'd  
really love to give it first-class library status by removing its reliance on  
an underlying layer of existing code. It would be fairly easy to do with  
Zortech since I'm a beta tester for them and have their existing library  
source, but they haven't shown any interest in pursuing it after having been  
given first crack at it - any takers? If anyone is interested in parallel or  
co-operative development, the structures and installation mechanisms are  
published - contact me either at the address above or rbs@lnic2.hprc.uh.edu.