Date: Thu, 05 Jun 2008 00:33:19 +0200 From: Nanno Langstraat <nlcom_os@ii.nl> To: freebsd-hackers@freebsd.org Subject: Standard byteorder functions across BSD / Linux Message-ID: <4847182F.80105@ii.nl>
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Hello,
I think it would be nice to have standard byteorder conversion functions for user applications across the BSDs and Linux.
betoh64(), htobe64(), etc. (like OpenBSD's sys/endian.h)
Just small convenience functions/macros, but useful because it's such a common requirement; applications currently have to roll their own over&over with an annoying tangle of #ifdefs.
Summary of the story so far:
* glibc added the basic macros to <endian.h>
* OpenBSD already had the macros in <sys/endian.h>. They are for
both kernel and application use according to the manpage.
OpenBSD didn't want my patch that made <endian.h> the standard
include file for user applications.
* FreeBSD has similar but incompatible macros in <sys/endian.h>.
They are for kernel use, not application use according to the manpage.
Full details below. (pretty long story for such a tiny feature)
----
My original proposal to the GNU glibc maintainers:
* glibc Bugzilla 6442 - Adding cross-Unix endianness functions:
betoh() / htobe() 64,32,16
http://sources.redhat.com/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=6442
* Pro/con:
http://sourceware.org/ml/libc-alpha/2008-05/msg00022.html
----
I planned to have a little coordination between glibc/FreeBSD/OpenBSD before starting on patches. That didn't happen, the glibc maintainers gave zero response for a full month, then created the basic macros in /usr/include/endian.h without any discussion.
* ('endian.h' pre-existed in glibc to define __LITTLE_ENDIAN etc. The
file does not pre-exist on OpenBSD / FreeBSD)
* (glibc didn't adopt the "swap64()" etc. functions. Glibc already
contains variants with a different naming pattern: "bswap_64()"
etc.)
* (be32enc() and friends only got a small mention by me, not adopted
by glibc)
----
The discussion on the OpenBSD mailinglist can be read here:
http://thread.gmane.org/gmane.os.openbsd.tech/15161/focus=15161
Of particular interest to FreeBSD: this charmless but informative email by Theo de Raadt, which outlines the history of the BSD kernel byteorder functions:
http://thread.gmane.org/gmane.os.openbsd.tech/15161/focus=15179
============================================================
My question to FreeBSD:
I don't use FreeBSD myself, but I'll prepare a patch if you like the idea and if you indicate what you'll accept:
* <endian.h> or <sys/endian.h> ?
I maintain that it should be <endian.h> for user applications:
IMHO <sys/> is for the user-kernel API, and byteorder belongs to
libc not the kernel API.
glibc apparently agrees, OpenBSD disagreed.
* You're OK with userspace applications standardizing on OpenBSD's
original betoh64() instead of FreeBSD's derivate be64toh() ?
Regards,
Nanno
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