From: Michael Davis <mdavis@...>
Date: 2001-09-21T03:10:19+09:00
Subject: [ruby-talk:21450] Low level file I/O question

I have created a class in c that fills a buffer with information.  I would 
like to read and write that buffer without having to create a String. 
 File.read() creates and returns a String.  For example, I would like to 
call File.read(buffer, size) and have my buffer filled directly with 
information.  I would like to find the best way call fread/fwrite directly 
using my buffer and have the file still be compatible with IO.read and 
IO.write from other Ruby IO methods.  Any suggestions on the best way to do 
this?

I am considering writing my own version of IO.read and IO.write call 
IO.read_direct(buffer, size) and IO.write_direct(buffer, size).  What are 
the risks with me calling fread/fwrite directly?  What are the risks if I 
later call IO.read and IO.write against the same file pointer?  Has anyone 
done anything similar?  How can I pass a buffer pointer (declared as a char 
* in my buffer class) to these functions in Ruby?

Thanks in advance, Michael