[Bug-gnulib] Re: xgetdomainname.c should include stdlib.h

[Simon Josefsson]

Jim Meyering <address@hidden> writes:

>>> BTW, wouldn't it be better without the `Get ...' comments?
>>> The `Get errno.' one certainly doesn't add anything useful.
>>
>> Yes, perhaps.  The cases where I find those comments useful are when
>> checking if the header file is still required -- searching for the
>> function/variable name mentioned in the comment answer that quickly.
>
> The problem is that such comments can easily get out of date,
> e.g., when the code changes to depend on yet another function
> from the affected header file.
> If there were some way to automatically guarantee
> consistency, it might be worthwhile.  Hm... but if we had
> that, then we wouldn't need the comments in the first place.

Right.

> This is also relevant to your getdate.h suggestion.
> For that same reason (risk of divergence), I prefer to keep
> most function describing comments in only one place: just above
> the actual function definition.  Some people prefer to put that
> documentation in the .h file.  In any case, it should appear in
> just one place unless you can ensure that the multiple copies
> will always remain identical.

Ok.  Perhaps it makes sense to write these matters down?  I don't
particularly care either way, as long as it doesn't generate problems,
but I do like consistency.  Assuming consistency across all gnulib
files is a desired goal, that is.