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digitalmars.D - std.file.fileType

reply "FreeSlave" <freeslave93 gmail.com> writes:
I was suggested to bring this idea up here.

fileType should be a function for determining of file type.

Example of usage:
Suppose application uses special directory for plugins (i.e. 
dynamic libraries). In graphics user interface it can be 
reflected like list of checkboxes that show which plugins are on 
and which are off. To implement this we should know that file 
actually represents dynamic library without trying to load it 
into executable memory. Yes, we can load and unload every file in 
place to check that it's valid dynamic library but it's some kind 
of hack.

Another example is file manager. It has icons for the most common 
file types and usually relies on file extension to determine 
which icon should be used. But we can't always rely on extension. 
For example many games use .pk3 extension as alias to .zip, but 
file manager know nothing about it and shows these files like 
ones with unknown extension.

So how do you think does phobos need these capabilities? May be 
you have other examples where this function can be useful.
Oct 04 2013
parent reply "simendsjo" <simendsjo gmail.com> writes:
On Friday, 4 October 2013 at 07:39:36 UTC, FreeSlave wrote:
 I was suggested to bring this idea up here.

 fileType should be a function for determining of file type.

 Example of usage:
 Suppose application uses special directory for plugins (i.e. 
 dynamic libraries). In graphics user interface it can be 
 reflected like list of checkboxes that show which plugins are 
 on and which are off. To implement this we should know that 
 file actually represents dynamic library without trying to load 
 it into executable memory. Yes, we can load and unload every 
 file in place to check that it's valid dynamic library but it's 
 some kind of hack.

 Another example is file manager. It has icons for the most 
 common file types and usually relies on file extension to 
 determine which icon should be used. But we can't always rely 
 on extension. For example many games use .pk3 extension as 
 alias to .zip, but file manager know nothing about it and shows 
 these files like ones with unknown extension.

 So how do you think does phobos need these capabilities? May be 
 you have other examples where this function can be useful.
Seems a bit specific to be put in the standard library. If you don't mind GPL, you can look at the source for file: http://www.darwinsys.com/file/
Oct 04 2013
parent reply "FreeSlave" <freeslave93 gmail.com> writes:
On Friday, 4 October 2013 at 08:06:24 UTC, simendsjo wrote:
 On Friday, 4 October 2013 at 07:39:36 UTC, FreeSlave wrote:
 I was suggested to bring this idea up here.

 fileType should be a function for determining of file type.

 Example of usage:
 Suppose application uses special directory for plugins (i.e. 
 dynamic libraries). In graphics user interface it can be 
 reflected like list of checkboxes that show which plugins are 
 on and which are off. To implement this we should know that 
 file actually represents dynamic library without trying to 
 load it into executable memory. Yes, we can load and unload 
 every file in place to check that it's valid dynamic library 
 but it's some kind of hack.

 Another example is file manager. It has icons for the most 
 common file types and usually relies on file extension to 
 determine which icon should be used. But we can't always rely 
 on extension. For example many games use .pk3 extension as 
 alias to .zip, but file manager know nothing about it and 
 shows these files like ones with unknown extension.

 So how do you think does phobos need these capabilities? May 
 be you have other examples where this function can be useful.
Seems a bit specific to be put in the standard library. If you don't mind GPL, you can look at the source for file: http://www.darwinsys.com/file/
Ok, I'll check it out. I've just called to mind another use, the most important I think. It's for web services to prevent from uploading possibly harmful files (executables) or to check service support for given file.
Oct 04 2013
parent "simendsjo" <simendsjo gmail.com> writes:
On Friday, 4 October 2013 at 08:27:00 UTC, FreeSlave wrote:
 On Friday, 4 October 2013 at 08:06:24 UTC, simendsjo wrote:
 On Friday, 4 October 2013 at 07:39:36 UTC, FreeSlave wrote:
 I was suggested to bring this idea up here.

 fileType should be a function for determining of file type.

 Example of usage:
 Suppose application uses special directory for plugins (i.e. 
 dynamic libraries). In graphics user interface it can be 
 reflected like list of checkboxes that show which plugins are 
 on and which are off. To implement this we should know that 
 file actually represents dynamic library without trying to 
 load it into executable memory. Yes, we can load and unload 
 every file in place to check that it's valid dynamic library 
 but it's some kind of hack.

 Another example is file manager. It has icons for the most 
 common file types and usually relies on file extension to 
 determine which icon should be used. But we can't always rely 
 on extension. For example many games use .pk3 extension as 
 alias to .zip, but file manager know nothing about it and 
 shows these files like ones with unknown extension.

 So how do you think does phobos need these capabilities? May 
 be you have other examples where this function can be useful.
Seems a bit specific to be put in the standard library. If you don't mind GPL, you can look at the source for file: http://www.darwinsys.com/file/
Ok, I'll check it out. I've just called to mind another use, the most important I think. It's for web services to prevent from uploading possibly harmful files (executables) or to check service support for given file.
The executable thing is quite simple: For windows, check for ".exe" or ".com", for *nix, check for executable flag. Browsers already complain about these though, so people distributing malware probably does other things like putting them in compressed files. In that case, your file tool would have to open every .zip, .rar, .7z, .gz etc etc and check every file within recursively. A bit OT regarding filetypes in the std lib though :)
Oct 04 2013