RE: Memory Leaks in RPG (was: Is RPG 'DEAD")

Like David, I'm learning a lot from these emails (just a lot more slowly).

A pointer is, as stated, just an address. But it's just the starting address, right? Which, if I understand Bruce's example and David's concern correctly, means that PgmA could pass PgmB an address to a parm. But this pointer/address wouldn't have any clue how long that parm is, right? I.e., if PgmA intended for PgmB to use, say, ten bytes it would have to pass that bit of trivia with the pointer. But, if PgmB decided to use twenty bytes starting at the passed address, it could. Or is the length of the address space to be used inherent in the pointer itself?

Jerry C. Adams
IBM System i Programmer/Analyst
B&W Wholesale
office: 615-995-7024
email: jerry@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx


-----Original Message-----
From: rpg400-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:rpg400-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of David Gibbs
Sent: Thursday, June 19, 2008 3:09 PM
To: RPG programming on the AS400 / iSeries
Subject: Re: Memory Leaks in RPG (was: Is RPG 'DEAD")

Bruce Vining wrote:

When you manipulate a SLS pointer (add/subtract/etc) there are checks
within the system to ensure that the new pointer value still
addresses a location within the object initially addressed by the
pointer. You cannot simply assign a pointer value arbitrarily and
you cannot arbitrarily access storage of another job (unless of
course that job gave you a pointer to the job).

Ok, that's what I figured. Just wanted to make sure.

Yes, program B in job B can write to the storage of job A if job A
gives job B addressibility (a pointer to its storage).

Interesting ... scary powerful though.

david

--
IBM System i - For when you can't afford to be out of business

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