[Ocaml-lib-devel] Major IO changes ?

[Nicolas C. <war...@fr...>]

Hi list,

After writing the Unzip module, I was wondering if we could not simplify the
IO module. Actually having a very abstract IO  ( such as ('a ,'b) IO.input )
is nice design but in the facts 95% of the time we're using (char,string)
inputs and outputs.

I'm planing then, if everybody agree, to simplify the IO module :

type input
type 'a output (* we're still keeping the useful return parameter when
closing *)

val read : input -> char
val nread : input -> int -> string
val input : input -> string -> int -> int -> int
val close_in : input -> unit

val write : 'a output -> char -> unit
val nwrite : 'a output -> string -> unit
val output : 'a output -> string -> int -> int -> unit
val flush : 'a output -> unit
val close_out : 'a output -> 'a

[...]

The benefits are :
- more simple interface (less type parameters)
- more compatible with Common IO defined here
http://www.ocaml-programming.de/tmp/IO-Classes.html
- more efficient because adding of input / output primitives

I personaly think it's worth the change, and that we should switch quickly.

Regards,
Nicolas Cannasse