[REBOL] Re: [BUG?] read-io & write-io or Wait or is TCL better?
From: lmecir:mbox:vol:cz at: 7-Aug-2003 16:06
> >Actually, you're wrong. First of all, READ-IO and WRITE-IO are
> >lowlevel functions;
> >
> OK, that is just presumption. Novice user will not know that ... we are
> here far too long and that is why we remember Holger stating that. But
> you can bet novice user will do exactly the same bug - will not clear
> the buffer.
Even a novice user has to know, it is documented:
USAGE:
READ-IO port buffer length
DESCRIPTION:
Low level read from a port.
I never used low level functions without a good reason and never complained, because
I knew, that the bug was between the keyboard and the chair I was sitting on.
Instead of writing things like: "Don't use your owen for animal drying!", I see the warning
(low level) and the "lack of beginner documentation" in this case as sufficient.
Everyone who ignores that has to be prepared for the consequences. Besides, it is highly
probable, that the behaviour of low level stuff may change between implementations.
> I give up ... so we will see new users frustrated each time. They will
> loose hours of struggling with the code, no matter what me or you think
> is the correct aproach ...
A novice user has got a choice. (S)he can either use well documented high level functions
or prepare for trouble. If the low-level stuff is useful, we don't have any right to
change it, because it is just that - a low-level stuff.
> >PK> What do other think? Should write-io clear the buffer after succesfull
> >PK> write automatically?
Why should a low-level function behave the way every beginner could use it? Then it wouldn't
be a low-level function any more.
Just my 0.10 CZK (Czech koruna).
Ladislav
