Re: [DotGNU]Pattern Matching in System.IO.Directory

[Gopal V]

If memory serves me right, Charles Shuller wrote:
> for how pattern should work, but the spec implies, when it states path 
> seperators are not allowed, that the Pattern is a generic 'GLOB' thing. 
>     For instance, foo.*  or *.bar or ?oo.bar.

Yup , it looks that way for sure ...

> I would much rather implement a full blown regexp implementation, using 
> libc's backing regexp library.  I think it will be far more usefull to 
> anyone actually using it, plus, it will still behave as expected for the 
> simpler version outlined above.  

[MethodImpl(MethodImplOptions.InternalCall)]
internal static bool InternalRegexpMatch(String input, String pattern);

and call it via a helper method which can check for errors in pattern.

> Just not throw an exception if a path seperator is included
> (as a path seperator in Windows could be an escape character for regexp)

Well, always use Path.DirectorySeperatorChar and the other fields there.
That would allow us to throw a correct exception in windows, and allow
for escape chars in unix as.

> Does anyone have any problems with this?  Do we need to supply a 
> strictly conformant mode somehow?  (I'm thinking no on the later, as 
> strictly conforming applications will still behave as expected).

A "strictly conformat" mode would not too much extra work. IMHO a 
more flexible model is always preferred ... for example throw an
exception on '[' or replace '.' with '\.' to produce an illusion of
conformance, or add '^' ,'$' at either end for a perfect match only.
and '*' => ".*" .... (ad infinitum).

Btw, do send in the patch before it grows huge .. :-)

HTH,
Gopal
-- 
The difference between insanity and genius is measured by success