phc-discussions - RE: [PHC] Q: int return from PHS()

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Date: Mon, 18 Feb 2013 13:26:34 -0800
From: "Dennis E. Hamilton" <dennis.hamilton@....org>
To: <discussions@...sword-hashing.net>
Subject: RE: [PHC] Q: int return from PHS()

!? (glad I asked)

If PHS( ) returns the length of the data delivered in the output buffer, type disharmony is avoided by (1) making the result a size_t or (2) making outlen an int.  In case (1), 0 is probably the failure result.  In case (2) negative results can signify errors (and 0 is a strange success case?).  I'm not clear whether (2) is now considered an archaic device.  I'm agnostic about that.  I just want definiteness.

If PHS( ) returns a straightforward result code (with 0 signifying success), I would expect that outlen is a request for a specific size of result and the function should fail if it can't deliver.  

In the case of failure/error in either case, the content of the output buffer should be considered unpredictable and should also not leak anything.  (If it were up to me, I'd always clear the output buffer at the beginning and endeavor to leave it that way except just before a success return.)

 - Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Thomas [mailto:steve@...tu.com] 
Sent: Monday, February 18, 2013 12:40
To: discussions@...sword-hashing.net
Subject: Re: [PHC] Q: int return from PHS()

> On February 18, 2013 at 1:00 PM Samuel Neves <sneves@....uc.pt> wrote: 
> 
> 
> On 18-02-2013 18:46, Dennis E. Hamilton wrote: 
> > Reference implementations for submissions are requested to provide an API 
> > having signature int PHS( ...) 
> > 
> > What are the prescribed return values and their significance? 
> > 
> > - Dennis 
> > 
> > PS: Sorry if this has been asked. I haven't found the list archive yet. 
> > 
> It has not been asked. 
> 
> In typical C fashion, return value should be 0 for success, and 
> otherwise for any error that may occur during computation. Error codes, 
> if any, should be up to implementors, since sources of error may wildly 
> vary between schemes/implementations. 

I was under the impression that the return value was the amount of data copied to the output buffer.