Re: When and how often to check for output errors?

[Pádraig Brady]

On 12/09/2012 04:16 PM, Cojocaru Alexandru wrote:
> Cut never checks error reported by fwrite and putchar. The error checking is 
> done by close_stdout.
> Paste checks for each and every call to putchar and fwrite (which IMHO is 
> overkill).
>
> What should be the correct behaviour? Check each call, or let it be done by 
> close_stdout? Or just check after processing a single file?
>
> Best regards,
> Cojocaru Alexandru

Good question.

It's a trade off between maintainability and precise errors.
Checking every output function in addition to using close_stdout,
will ensure precise errors in all edge cases,
while just relying on close_stdout will always diagnose errors,
though in certain edge cases not with a precise error message.
Details at:
http://www.gnu.org/ghm/2011/paris/slides/jim-meyering-goodbye-world.pdf

thanks,
Pádraig.