Re: Get login name and/or path to home directory of current user?

In article <136rl3gldngqib7@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>,
 SM Ryan <wyrmwif@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:

> Ben Artin <macdev@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
> # In article <_ycbi.283$y05.169@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>,
> #  Gabriele Greco <gabrielegreco@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
> # 
> # > Anyway I agree with Bo about the use of FSRef in a Carbon program,
but I 
> # > also agree with SM Ryan that FSRef is a over-complex implementation
to 
> # > retain compatibility with an older OS.
> # 
> # The point of an FSRef is *not* to retain compatibility with an older
OS but 
> # provide functionality that neither aliases nor paths provide.
> 
> Unless Apple has special interfaces to the kernel, it is only
> hiding a file path or file descriptor. 

Neither file descriptors or file paths are the principal abstraction of
the VFS 
layer in the kernel. The principal abstraction for an on-disk file is a
vnode. 
Paths are merely one possible lookup method for vnodes. 

File descriptors are also not relevant, because they can only represent
open 
files, and they can also represent things other than files.

> # 1) Path: represents a file system item that may or may not exist, no
longer 
> # valid if the item is moved or renamed, persists across processes, can
be used to 
> # identify one item relative to another.
> 
> Unless Apple is using special interfaces, it is using paths to identify
> inodes.

You are confused. Paths are not used to identify inodes, but to locate
vnodes.

> # 2) FSRef: represents a file system item that must exist, remains valid
if item 
> # is moved or renamed, does not persist across processes.
> 
> This is a file descriptor. 

You are confused. File descriptors represent open files, not filesystem
items.

> They are just a compatiability API. You're using Unix now. All you
> get are paths to unopenned possible inodes and descriptors (possibly
> in a structure like FILE*) to openned inodes. Don't be ashamed of that,
> exploit it.

You are in way over your head. Don't be ashamed of that, but do us all a
favor: 
either go learn about this so you can have an informed opinion, or keep
quiet.

Ben

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