[uClibc-cvs] uClibc/docs uClibc_vs_SuSv3.txt,NONE,1.1

Erik Andersen andersen at uclibc.org
Wed Aug 6 22:41:26 UTC 2003


Update of /var/cvs/uClibc/docs
In directory winder:/tmp/cvs-serv29444/docs

Added Files:
	uClibc_vs_SuSv3.txt 
Log Message:
Begin documenting differences between uClibc and SuSv3
 -Erik


--- NEW FILE: uClibc_vs_SuSv3.txt ---
uClibc attempts to fully (and rigorously) support "The Open Group Base
Specifications Issue 6 IEEE Std 1003.1, 2003 Edition" (aka SuSv3).  However, as
with any standard, they sometimes require things that are either impossible or
are Completely Stupid(tm).  Therefore, we cannot claim full compliance, and
there may be some area of uClibc that differ from the requirements of this
specification.  This document attempts to list these differences and, when
completed, will contain a full list of all relevant differences between uClibc
and the requirements of the SuSv3.


1) The uClibc setlocale() function is not threadsafe.  

    SuSv3 states that "The locale state is common to all threads
    within a process.".  But it does not explicitly mention
    setlocale() as a function that need not be thread-safe.
    Making setlocale() threadsafe would require an absurd amount
    of locking (i.e. inside each and every ctype call such as
    isalpha()).  Furthermore, we consider calling setlocale()
    from N threads concurrently while using string functions to
    be a terribly dumb thing to do.  Therefore, we have decided
    that setlocale() shall not be threadsafe.  If you are
    multi-threaded, and you wish to change the global locale
    state, please take care to prevent all other threads from
    using any locale or ctype functions until the setlocale()
    call has finished.

2) Some functions required by SuSv3 are not currently implemented.
    The function you are mostly likely to encounter is wordexp().
    A couple of years ago, nobody used wordexp.  Now some apps do.
    One of these days, someone may provide us with a well written
    patch to implement it...

More to follow when we think of it...





More information about the uClibc-cvs mailing list