char *PerlIO_get_base(PerlIO *f);
int PerlIO_get_bufsiz(PerlIO *f);
- PerlIO *PerlIO_importFILE(FILE *stdio, int flags);
+ PerlIO *PerlIO_importFILE(FILE *stdio, const char *mode);
FILE *PerlIO_exportFILE(PerlIO *f, int flags);
FILE *PerlIO_findFILE(PerlIO *f);
void PerlIO_releaseFILE(PerlIO *f,FILE *stdio);
=item B<PerlIO_read(f,buf,count)>, B<PerlIO_write(f,buf,count)>
-These correspond to fread() and fwrite(). Note that arguments are
-different, there is only one "count" and order has "file"
-first. Returns a byte count if successful (which may be zero), returns
-negative value and sets C<errno> on error. Depending on
-implementation C<errno> may be C<EINTR> if operation was interrupted
-by a signal.
+These correspond functionally to fread() and fwrite() but the
+arguments and return values are different. The PerlIO_read() and
+PerlIO_write() signatures have been modeled on the more sane low level
+read() and write() functions instead: The "file" argument is passed
+first, there is only one "count", and the return value can distinguish
+between error and C<EOF>.
+
+Returns a byte count if successful (which may be zero or
+positive), returns negative value and sets C<errno> on error.
+Depending on implementation C<errno> may be C<EINTR> if operation was
+interrupted by a signal.
=item B<PerlIO_close(f)>
This corresponds to fflush(). Sends any buffered write data to the
underlying file. If called with C<NULL> this may flush all open
-streams (or core dump). Calling on a handle open for read only, or on
-which last operation was a read of some kind may lead to undefined
-behaviour.
+streams (or core dump with some USE_STDIO implementations). Calling
+on a handle open for read only, or on which last operation was a read
+of some kind may lead to undefined behaviour on some USE_STDIO
+implementations. The USE_PERLIO (layers) implementation tries to
+behave better: it flushes all open streams when passed C<NULL>, and
+attempts to retain data on read streams either in the buffer or by
+seeking the handle to the current logical position.
=item B<PerlIO_seek(f,offset,whence)>
This corresponds to fseek(). Sends buffered write data to the
underlying file, or discards any buffered read data, then positions
-the file desciptor as specified by B<offset> and B<whence> (sic).
+the file descriptor as specified by B<offset> and B<whence> (sic).
This is the correct thing to do when switching between read and write
on the same handle (see issues with PerlIO_flush() above). Offset is
of type C<Off_t> which is a perl Configure value which may not be same
=over 4
-=item B<PerlIO_importFILE(f,flags)>
+=item B<PerlIO_importFILE(f,mode)>
-Used to get a PerlIO * from a FILE *. May need additional arguments,
-interface under review.
+Used to get a PerlIO * from a FILE *.
-The flags argument was meant to be used for read vs write vs
-read/write information. In hindsight it would have been better to make
-it a char *mode as in fopen/freopen.
+The mode argument should be a string as would be passed to
+fopen/PerlIO_open. If it is NULL then - for legacy support - the code
+will (depending upon the platform and the implementation) either
+attempt to empirically determine the mode in which I<f> is open, or
+use "r+" to indicate a read/write stream.
-=item B<PerlIO_exportFILE(f,flags)>
+Once called the FILE * should I<ONLY> be closed by calling
+C<PerlIO_close()> on the returned PerlIO *.
-Given a PerlIO * return a 'native' FILE * suitable for passing to code
-expecting to be compiled and linked with ANSI C I<stdio.h>.
+The PerlIO is set to textmode. Use PerlIO_binmode if this is
+not the desired mode.
-The fact that such a FILE * has been 'exported' is recorded, and may
-affect future PerlIO operations on the original PerlIO *.
+This is B<not> the reverse of PerlIO_exportFILE().
-=item B<PerlIO_findFILE(f)>
+=item B<PerlIO_exportFILE(f,mode)>
+
+Given a PerlIO * create a 'native' FILE * suitable for passing to code
+expecting to be compiled and linked with ANSI C I<stdio.h>. The mode
+argument should be a string as would be passed to fopen/PerlIO_open.
+If it is NULL then - for legacy support - the FILE * is opened in same
+mode as the PerlIO *.
+
+The fact that such a FILE * has been 'exported' is recorded, (normally
+by pushing a new :stdio "layer" onto the PerlIO *), which may affect
+future PerlIO operations on the original PerlIO *. You should not
+call C<fclose()> on the file unless you call C<PerlIO_releaseFILE()>
+to disassociate it from the PerlIO *. (Do not use PerlIO_importFILE()
+for doing the disassociation.)
-Returns previously 'exported' FILE * (if any). Placeholder until
-interface is fully defined.
+Calling this function repeatedly will create a FILE * on each call
+(and will push an :stdio layer each time as well).
=item B<PerlIO_releaseFILE(p,f)>
Calling PerlIO_releaseFILE informs PerlIO that all use of FILE * is
-complete. It is removed from list of 'exported' FILE *s, and
-associated PerlIO * should revert to original behaviour.
+complete. It is removed from the list of 'exported' FILE *s, and the
+associated PerlIO * should revert to its original behaviour.
+
+Use this to disassociate a file from a PerlIO * that was associated
+using PerlIO_exportFILE().
+
+=item B<PerlIO_findFILE(f)>
+
+Returns a native FILE * used by a stdio layer. If there is none, it
+will create one with PerlIO_exportFILE. In either case the FILE *
+should be considered as belonging to PerlIO subsystem and should
+only be closed by calling C<PerlIO_close()>.
+
=back
=item B<PerlIO_fast_gets(f)>
Returns true if implementation has all the interfaces required to
-allow perl's C<sv_gets> to "bypass" normal IO mechanism.
-This can vary from handle to handle.
+allow perl's C<sv_gets> to "bypass" normal IO mechanism. This can
+vary from handle to handle.
PerlIO_fast_gets(f) = PerlIO_has_cntptr(f) && \
PerlIO_canset_cnt(f) && \
The new interface to the USE_PERLIO implementation. The layers ":crlf"
and ":raw" are only ones allowed for other implementations and those
-are silently ignored. Use PerlIO_binmode() below for the portable
-case.
+are silently ignored. (As of perl5.8 ":raw" is deprecated.) Use
+PerlIO_binmode() below for the portable case.
=item PerlIO_binmode(f,ptype,imode,layers)
B<imode> is C<O_BINARY> or C<O_TEXT>.
-B<layers> is a string of layers to apply, only ":raw" or :"crlf" make
-sense in the non USE_PERLIO case.
+B<layers> is a string of layers to apply, only ":crlf" makes sense in
+the non USE_PERLIO case. (As of perl5.8 ":raw" is deprecated in favour
+of passing NULL.)
Portable cases are:
- PerlIO_binmode(f,ptype,O_BINARY,":raw");
+ PerlIO_binmode(f,ptype,O_BINARY,NULL);
and
PerlIO_binmode(f,ptype,O_TEXT,":crlf");