From: Eric Wong <normalperson@...>
Date: 2011-02-05T05:54:48+09:00
Subject: Re: Does RSTRING_PTR() return a '\0' terminated C?

Eric Hodel <drbrain@segment7.net> wrote:
> On Feb 4, 2011, at 12:07 PM, Eric Wong wrote:
> > It's always '\0'-terminated in Ruby[1], it makes life much easier for
> > interacting with existing C functions that assume C strings (e.g.
> > *printf("%s"), open(), rename(), unlink(), etc...)
> > 
> > [1] - unless there's a bug somewhere, or somebody hell bent on using the
> >      extra byte :)

> I don't think this is true, use RSTRING_LEN with RSTRING_PTR to get
> the length since the string may contain embedded NULLs.

Yes, embedded NULLs are always a problem :/

> If you want a safe C string use StringValueCStr().

Strange that StringValueCStr() NULL terminates explicitly, everywhere
else I look in string.c there's always an extra byte allocated for NULL,
but I suppose one can't be too careful in C.

-- 
Eric Wong