Re: [PATCH] maint: enable the sc_avoid_if_before_free syntax-check

[Jim Meyering]

Bruno Haible wrote:

> Hi Jim,
>
>> Bruno, is it ok to remove the one in lib/clean-temp.c, below?
>
> No, it's better if the 'if (old_array != NULL)' stays there. It reminds
> the maintainer of the code of the two possible cases.

I'm surprised you think it's worth keeping that test
solely as a reminder.

> So, can you please add clean-temp.c to if_before_free_offenders_ ?

I will.

> Note also that this "avoid if before free" rule is less valuable nowadays
> than a couple of years ago: It was a migration aid from K&R C to ANSI C.
> Nowadays little code remains that is written for K&R C, and few minds program
> for K&R C. Therefore the "if before free" cases that are remaining are
> more likely to be intentional than before.

If only that were true.  I've just removed several hundreds of
such uses from glusterfs.  From what I've seen, the majority of
C/C++ developers attempt to avoid free(p) when p is NULL.