Re: Idea for reducing disk IO on tagging operations

[Doug Lee]

On Mon, Mar 28, 2005 at 02:12:56PM -0500, Jim.Hyslop wrote:
> [top posting as a courtesy for Doug]

Thanks :) I just hope I don't cause a mess by that comment, which I
suppose was fuelled as much by lack of lunch as by anything. :-)

> I haven't examined the patch, so I don't know how closely the implementation
> matches the proposal, but if I understand the proposed changes, whitespace
> is still insignificant, there's just more of it added as a buffer, as an
> optimization to improve speed when applying tags. If the implementation is
> carried out correctly, then the RCS file will still be compatible with other
> RCS-compatible software, some of which could legitimately strip out the
> extra whitespace (unless the general practise is to leave whitespace alone).

You are correct, according to a message the author just sent me.
Consider my complaint dismissed, and thanks for the explanations.

> My only concern around this patch is to make sure robustness has not been
> adversely affected. I don't know enough about third-party add-ons to know
> for sure, or to comment on their use. 
> 
> I also like the fact that the change is optional, so that it can be disabled
> if any particular platform is incompatible with the changes.
> 
> Doug Lee wrote:
> > I have reservations about any system that makes whitespace significant
> > in a text file.  I can make an exception for indent levels, as used by
> > Python, because these are visible and errors are obvious without
> > resorting to odd tactics like hex editors, vi's :list command, etc.
> > 
> > I say I expect to be shot down because, of course, the "proper" theory
> > is that all in a CVS file is opaque and should not be depended upon by
> > CVS users.
> 
> -- 
> Jim Hyslop
> Senior Software Designer
> Leitch Technology International Inc. ( http://www.leitch.com )
> Columnist, C/C++ Users Journal ( http://www.cuj.com/experts )

-- 
Doug Lee           address@hidden        http://www.dlee.org
Bartimaeus Group   address@hidden   http://www.bartsite.com
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