Re: [boost] Re: [filesystem] create_directories not thread-safe?

From: Jeff Garland (jeff_at_[hidden])
Date: 2004-03-09 12:50:40

On Tue, 09 Mar 2004 11:36:52 -0500, Beman Dawes wrote
> That's an interesting thought. Of course, it might not be another 
> thread but rather another process that created the directory, and 
> that could be a sign of real trouble.
> 
> But such a change would allow simpler user code. What is now written:
> 
>     if ( !exists( foo ) ) create_directory( foo );
> 
> becomes:
> 
>     create_directory( foo );
>
> 
> What happens when the directory existing really does constitute and 
> error, and create_directory() doesn't throw? Will applications fail 
> in difficult to diagnose ways? Can applications protect themselves 
> against silent failure?
  
How about something like:
 void create_directory ( const path& name, bool error_if_exists = false);

Then the application can decide -- defaulting to nothrow.

> What happens if the path exists but is not a directory? Presumably 
> that case must still throw.

Yes, I think so.

Jeff