[Python-Dev] Convert int() to size_t in Python/C (original) (raw)

Random832 random832 at fastmail.com
Fri Apr 29 14:25:31 EDT 2016

On Fri, Apr 29, 2016, at 14:11, Marcos Dione wrote:

These are not output parameters, even if they're pointers. they'r using the NULL pointer to signal that the current offsets should not be touched, to differentiate from a offset of 0. Something that in Python we would use None.

That's not actually true according to the documentation. (And if it were, they could simply use -1 rather than a null pointer)

If you pass a null pointer in, the file's offset is used and is updated, same as if you used an ordinary read/write call. If you pass a value in, that value is used and updated (which makes it an output parameter) and the file's offset is left alone.

Documentation below, I've >>>highlighted<<< the part that shows they are used as output parameters:

   The following semantics apply for off_in, and similar statements
   apply to off_out:

   *  If off_in is NULL, then bytes are read from fd_in starting
   from
      the file offset, and the file offset is adjusted by the number
      of
      bytes copied.

   *  If off_in is not NULL, then off_in must point to a buffer that
      specifies the starting offset where bytes from fd_in will be
      read.
      The file offset of fd_in is not changed, >>>but off_in is
      adjusted
      appropriately.<<<

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