RE: Classic C problems, need help!

["Glover George" <dime at gulfsales dot com>]

I guess that's the problem is how do I know?  If the prototype of the
function is (char *someval) does that tell me anything?  I mean, other
than well documented function headers, how do I know?

> -----Original Message-----
> From: gcc-help-owner@gcc.gnu.org 
> [mailto:gcc-help-owner@gcc.gnu.org] On Behalf Of John Love-Jensen
> Sent: Friday, May 03, 2002 12:50 PM
> To: Glover George
> Cc: gcc-help@gcc.gnu.org
> Subject: Re: Classic C problems, need help!
> 
> 
> Hi Dime,
> 
> What you are running into is the concept known as OWNERSHIP.  
> I put OWNERSHIP in capitals because it is a very important 
> C/C++ detail to get right -- otherwise memory leaks or 
> dangling pointers, then Bad Things Happen shortly thereafter. 
>  Aside: Java gets around the OWNERSHIP problem by having 
> garbage collection, pass-by-value for POD and 
> pass-by-reference for UDT.
> 
> When you pass the char* to the other routine, does it's 
> contract say that it is taking OWNERSHIP of that string?  And 
> thus, is responsible to destruct it, when appropriate.
> 
> Or does that other routine merely borrow that string for 
> whatever purposes... input only?  output only?  input/output 
> (aka update)?  utility or functor (more so for C++ than C)?
> 
> Without known the contract that the routine is operating 
> under, I cannot tell you your proper course of action.
> 
> --Eljay
> 
>