Re: Let's start working! (Re: qmail Patch Repository)

[Charles Cazabon <qmail@discworld.dyndns.org>]

Fabio Busatto <fabio.busatto@sikurezza.org> wrote:
> On Wed, Mar 07, 2007 at 04:35:53PM -0500, Russ Nelson wrote:
> >  > The preprocessor directives are useful if used in a wise way,
> >
> > Not possible.
> 
> Simply, why not?

Because the original form of the source code is not important for the
compiler; it is only important for the programmer.  Anything that makes the
source code harder to understand (and littering it with code that is
conditionally included/excluded does that) makes it less useful.

> They let you make your choices, and then cc -E will give you the
> right code without anything else.

Not helpful.  When you go to change the source code, that's not the version
you're going to be working on.

> What do you think is the right approach to the problem?

Look at the way djb packages the original, unmodified qmail-1.03.  *That* is
the right approach to the problem.

Charles
-- 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Charles Cazabon                               <qmail@discworld.dyndns.org>
Read http://pyropus.ca/personal/writings/12-steps-to-qmail-list-bliss.html
My services include qmail consulting.  See http://pyropus.ca/ for details.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------