[Gambas-user] BUG Install on mandriva

[Doriano Blengino]

Benoît Minisini ha scritto:
>>> VarPtr() must be used when a C-function argument is actually a pointer to
>>> a variable that will be modified by the called function.
>>>        
>> I disagree for two or three reasons. First, an external declaration
>> already implies that the declaration refers to something extraneous to
>> gambas, where things are different. This is even more true for gambas,
>> which only needs EXTERN to interface to modules written in other
>> languages, because it has a more natural and efficient way to use its
>> own modules/components.
>> The second reason is that using BYREF in the external declaration, the
>> task of the function is well defined for now and forever. Actually, in
>> that case, BYREF would internally mean something different - but anyway
>> all the declaration takes a totally different way in its implementation.
>> But, at high, logic level, BYREF would keep its intimate meaning.
>> Third, if I can not declare an external parameter with BYREF, I must
>> then use varptr() on every call - this moves the logic from declaration
>> to its usage - and there is more to type on the keyboard.
>>      
> This is not possible, because Gambas use dynamic linking. You have to specify
> VarPtr() at function call.
>
> Moreover, even if I agree that the ByRef syntax is nicer, it cannot be used
> there again because of the dynamic linking: ByRef for a Gambas function
> implies compiling a different code than your ByRef for an extern function, and
> as Gambas may not know at compile time if a function is extern or "intern", he
> cannot do that.
>    
I understand.

>
> I admit that the design may not be perfect, but again all these syntax cover
> all the needed features for memory access. This is not just a matter of using
> one keyword instead of another one. And structures are implemented correctly,
> except that you cannot pack them.
>
> And beware: memory allocated by Alloc() must be freed with Free(), and you
> must not use Free() to free memory allocated by an extern function! Alloc()
> does not call the glibc malloc() directly, and Free() does not call the glibc
> free() directly too.
>    
I see your point - I will use what's already inside the box.

This leads to my last question: how can I download a local copy of the 
wiki? I tried two or three times with wget, but the result is unuseable.

Regards,
Doriano