Re: sockets library

From: mfdylan (dylan_at_[hidden])
Date: 2001-12-20 16:07:18

--- In boost_at_y..., Iain.Hanson_at_u... wrote:
>      
> Efficientcy is not the only reason that iostreams are not suitable 
for the 
> loewest layer of a C++ networking library. They do not map well 
onto any of the 
> packet oriented protcols such as those build on UDP.
> 
Who said anything about them being the lowest layer?  Supplying a 
socketbuf class simply _allows_ you to use streams with sockets, and 
sure, they are really only appropriate for blocking TCP sockets 
(technically you could them with non-blocking sockets but it would 
get pretty messy), but they still serve a useful purposes for a wide 
class of applications.

> ASCII protocols are far from in the majority either standardosed or 
propriarty.
> 

Perhaps, but the most commonly used ones (today) are all ASCII - 
SMTP, HTTP, POP, FTP, NNTP, TELNET/RSH/RLOGIN etc. Raw binary data is 
sometimes used as part of the protocol, but it can all be done with 
an essentially ascii interface.

Dylan