bug#21486: [PATCH 3/3] dfa: cache transition from a state with dot expression in non-UTF8 multibyte locales

[arnold]

Hi Jim.

Jim Meyering <address@hidden> wrote:

> Would you please accelerate gawk's conversion to C99?

When the very first Hondas were imported to the US in the 1970s, they
were very small cars. Soon bumper stickers appeared that said

        Don't honk! I'm pedallilng as fast as I can

I hope this conversion will happen at the 4.2 release within 1 - 1.5
years. But as I'm juggling many other Real Life(tm) balls, I can't make
any commitments.

> I won't undo these changes, but really feel like I should.

If you wish to undo them, you may. I maintain a few other gawk-only
changes so it's not too much trouble to maintain the C90 differences.
(Historically, I've dealt with worse, during the several years when
grep was essentially unmaintained.)

> This is tricky code, and making it even ever-so-slightly less
> readable/maintainable goes against the best interests of all of us.
> And for what benefit? Only to support those rare few who maintain
> museum pieces and/or are unwilling to install a modern compiler.

You'd be surprised how many people have no choice but to continue to
use "museum pieces".  Exactly those users need working versions of
modern software.  I think there's a happy medium to be found. :-)

In any case, if C90 code is really bothering you, then undo the changes
and I'll manage.

Thanks,

Arnold