Re: GC safety and return values Michael Sperber 27 Dec 2003 16:08 UTC

>>>>> "Tom" == Tom Lord <xxxxxx@emf.net> writes:

>> From: Michael Sperber <xxxxxx@informatik.uni-tuebingen.de>

>> Having worked a lot on XEmacs GC issues, I disagree.  What makes
>> it suck in (X)Emacs (IMHO) is the fact that there isn't a
>> consistent methodology to using GCPRO, and that developers
>> constantly try to "optimize" the use of it.

Tom> Is that mostly to avoid the cost of GC(UN)PRO calls?

Yes.

Tom> That's why I suggest GCPROtecting "frame" structures that hold an
Tom> arbitrary number of variables at once.  This approach also makes
Tom> it easier to add and remove variables without having to
Tom> simultaneously update GC(UN)PRO calls.

But (X)Emacs allows this.  It's not about the cost---it's about the
*perceived* cost.

Tom> Whether a primitie can trigger GC isn't something the FFI should speak
Tom> about (because, really, GC can happen just about anytime).

Right; that comes down to just about the same thing.

--
Cheers =8-} Mike
Friede, Völkerverständigung und überhaupt blabla