[patch #5916] error propagation layer

[Ben Pfaff]

URL:
  <http://savannah.gnu.org/patch/?5916>

                 Summary: error propagation layer
                 Project: PSPP
            Submitted by: blp
            Submitted on: Thursday 05/03/07 at 21:01
                Category: None
              Item Group: None
                  Status: Ready For Test/Review
             Assigned to: None
        Originator Email: 
             Open/Closed: Open
         Discussion Lock: Any

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Details:

I've written some code to help simplify error handling in the new
implementation of procedures in the simpler-proc branch.  I think it is ready
for review.  I've attached it.

It's based on the idea of "taint propagation" that can be found in various
tools (e.g. Valgrind) and academic papers (e.g. one that I was involved in,
available via [http://www.stanford.edu/~blp/papers/taint.html]).  The basic
rule of taint propagation (in this case) is "garbage in, garbage out".  That
is, any operation based on corrupted input has corrupted output.

Naming is something of a problem here.  Currently the object is called a
"taint" and so is the property of "being tainted" and the action of
"tainting".  Ideally these should be more distinct.  One idea is to name the
objects "gigo" (for garbage in, garbage out),  the property "corrupted", and
the action "spoil".  Or whatever.  I'm open to opinions.

What do you think?



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File Attachments:


-------------------------------------------------------
Date: Thursday 05/03/07 at 21:01  Name: taint.tar.gz  Size: 5kB   By: blp

<http://savannah.gnu.org/patch/download.php?file_id=12690>

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