linux-kernel - Re: trivial: make comment about vs{n,cn,}printf more understandable

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Date:	Wed, 24 Nov 2010 09:27:42 -0600
From:	Will Schmidt <will_schmidt@...t.ibm.com>
To:	unlisted-recipients:; (no To-header on input)
Cc:	Milton Miller <miltonm@....com>, u.kleine-koenig@...gutronix.de,
	linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org, trivial@...nel.org,
	Randy Dunlap <rdunlap@...otime.net>,
	Steven Rostedt <rostedt@...dmis.org>
Subject: Re: trivial: make comment about vs{n,cn,}printf more understandable

On Tue, 2010-11-23 at 22:20 -0500, Steven Rostedt wrote:
> On Tue, 2010-11-23 at 21:04 -0600, Milton Miller wrote:
> > On Tue, 23 Nov 2010 at about 16:12:45 -0000, Uwe Kleine-König wrote:
> > > 
> > > "You probably want ... instead." sounds like a recommendation better
> > > not to use the v... functions.
> > > 
> > 
> > Which is true, if you dont' have a va_list its hard to get them.
> > But I do get your point.
> > 
> > >   * the @buf not including the trailing '\0'. If @size is <= 0 the function
> > >   * returns 0.
> > >   *
> > > - * Call this function if you are already dealing with a va_list.
> > > - * You probably want scnprintf() instead.
> > > + * If you're not already dealing with a va_list better use scnprintf().
> > 
> > That doesn't flow off my (mid-western usa) tounge.
> > 
> > How about
> >  * Call this function if you are already dealing with a va_list.
> >  * Otherwise you probably want to use scnprintf().

> This is closer to what he asked us on IRC ;-)
> 
> But a "do X if Y" is more perl syntax than English (IMHO).
> 
> 
> > 
> > Alternatively,
> >  * If you're not already dealing with a va_list consider scnprintf().
> 
> This isn't bad. My recommendation I gave him was:
> 
>  * If you are already dealing with a va_list, then call this function.
>  * Otherwise you probably want to use scnprintf()

Would be nice if we could lead with the "probably...", but I don't see a
clean way of doing that.    How about a blending of the two:

 * Call this function if you are dealing with a va_list, otherwise use
the scnprintf() function.


> But my upstate NY tongue may not be the best judgment here.
> 
> -- Steve
> 
> "When people ask me what language my mother tongue is, I simply reply 'C'"
> 
> 
> 


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