JohnB --
I understand what you are saying -- but there's still a sticking
point.
The input, output, and error streams are declared as InputStream and
OutputStream's, which are general streams that could take either
byte arrays
(for binary or general data) or character streams, which I
understand can be
put in a String class. I am unsure what exactly the
getInputStream(),
getOutputStream() and getErrorStream() are returning as there are
subclasses
to class InputStream and OutputStream that cater to both kinds of
data. I
am wondering if there is a way to query the type of subclass of a
class of
an object. That would solve it.
Anyway, There might be uses of my class that want to do some kind of
operation on a general data file. For example, is there ever a
graphic or
other binary data embedded in what I would be sending through the
program
that would be spit back out on the output stream?
This is just a matter of understanding java from the ters online
docs. I
could resort to one of the books I guess. But I think the online
docs
should be enough.
--le
----- Original Message -----
From: "John J. Boyer" <john.boyer@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <brailleblaster@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Friday, December 10, 2010 1:29 AM
Subject: [brailleblaster] Re: byte arrays versus strings
Laura,
As I see it, your code should be written for generality, so it can be
used to calll other command-line filters. The input and output
streams
should therefore be strings.
Another part of your code might take a stream containing a MathML
fragment and convert it to a JDOM subtree. This code might be
useful in
other parts of BrailleBlaster, so it should also be generalized.
Hope this helps,
John B.
On Thu, Dec 09, 2010 at 07:25:06PM -0600, qubit wrote:
Ok, this is where I need JohnB's expertise with characters and byte
strings.
Of course, anyone else can chime in too.
I have a buffered stream going from brailleblaster to the input of
process
just spawned, and 2 streams coming back for standard error and
standard
out.
I will be managing the pipes in a class constructor / finalizer.
My question is, in the docs for the input and output streams in
java.io,
there are subclasses that manage byte arrays and subclasses that
do just
character strings.
My class will provide you with a read and a write method. Should
I just
assume that everything that goes over the pipe is a character
stream, or
are
there cases where I can't assume that?
Should this be a character stream or a byte stream?
Should I use threads that handle the input and output on these
streams?
I am trying to get all my "ducks in a row" as a family member
likes to
say.
Any comments are welcome.
--le
--
John J. Boyer; President, Chief Software Developer
Abilitiessoft, Inc.
http://www.abilitiessoft.com
Madison, Wisconsin USA
Developing software for people with disabilities
