[perl #31730] [PATCH] IO::File reads garbage from directory filehandles

> [stmpeters - Sat Nov 27 07:36:47 2004]:
> 
> > [ni-s - Thu Sep 30 14:34:10 2004]:
> > 
> > Steve Peters via RT <perlbug-followup@perl.org> writes:
> > >
> > >Two points brought up remain, though.
> > >
> > >* Do we want to add an optional argument to IO::File->new() so that it 
> > >fails on an open attempt on a directory?  The advantage of this would 
> > >be that it would allow for consistant cross-platform behavior.  This 
> > >would add some overhead to IO::File (likely a -d) to the constructor 
> > >for IO::File.
> > 
> > >
> > >* Do we want to document this behavior?  Those who have bounced around 
> > >several POSIX environments have experienced this before and have 
> > >learned to deal with this behavior.  Does this deserve mention on 
> > >IO::File's Pod, or is a FAQ entry sufficient?   
> > 
> > Personally I see no reason to use IO::File ever again so I don't care 
> > what you do to it, or its POD.
> > 
> > I see some minor merit in mentioning amongst all the other 
> > perldoc -f open stuff.
> > As for a FAQ entry, I don't remember this coming up 
> > before and I have been on p5p for (9?!) years so this isn't 
> > a very 'F' 'AQ'!
> > 
> 
> Below is a patch to explain the behavior and to suggest better
alternatives.
> 
> --- /usr/libdata/perl5/i386-openbsd/5.8.5/IO/File.pm    Fri Sep 17
> 13:09:59 2004
> +++ ./IO/File.pm        Sat Nov 27 09:32:46 2004
> @@ -95,12 +95,20 @@
>  
>  =back
>  
> +=head1 NOTE
> +
> +Some operating systems may allow a C<IO::File::new> or C<IO::File::open> 
> +to be performed on a directory without errors.  This behavior is not
> +portable and not suggested for use.  Instead, C<opendir> and
C<readdir> or
> +C<DirHandle> suggested instead.
> +
...

Scratch the previous patch as I noticed a grammatical error right after
sending it off.  Use the below patch instead.

--- /usr/libdata/perl5/i386-openbsd/5.8.5/IO/File.pm    Fri Sep 17
13:09:59 2004
+++ ./IO/File.pm        Sat Nov 27 09:38:21 2004
@@ -95,12 +95,20 @@
 
 =back
 
+=head1 NOTE
+
+Some operating systems may allow a C<IO::File::new> or C<IO::File::open> 
+to be performed on a directory without errors.  This behavior is not
+portable and not suggested for use.  Instead, C<opendir> and C<readdir> or
+C<DirHandle> are suggested instead.
+
 =head1 SEE ALSO
 
 L<perlfunc>, 
 L<perlop/"I/O Operators">,
 L<IO::Handle>
 L<IO::Seekable>
+L<DirHandle>
 
 =head1 HISTORY
 
@@ -121,7 +129,7 @@
 
 @ISA = qw(IO::Handle IO::Seekable Exporter);
 
-$VERSION = "1.10";
+$VERSION = "1.11";
 
 @EXPORT = @IO::Seekable::EXPORT;

• [perl #31730] [PATCH] IO::File reads garbage from directory filehandles by Steve Peters via RT