Libmib Allocated String Functions

Background - Usage - Issues - Example Uses - Get the source
Background
Libmib astrings implement a fast, efficient "limitless" string. Use astrings in place of fixed length string buffers, which are a common area of software defects causing operational or security failure.

Libmib Design for Reuse
Goals of the astring memory management subroutines

Be compatible with malloc(), realloc() and free() calls.
Be compatible with existing string library calls.
Try to prevent copying reallocs.
Minimize storage "overhead."
Portability. Do not rely on non-standard functions to manage memory.

Usage
C and C++ sources which #include "libmib/astring.h" can

Use the astring equivalents for strcpy(), strncpy(), strcat(), or strncat(). They are declared as follows:

    char *astrcpy(char **ppasz,const char *pSrc);
    char *astrn0cpy(char **ppasz,const char *pSrc,int n);
	/* NOTE: astrn0cpy Always stores the ending \0 */

Take advantage of the "astring-enhanced" sprintf and fgets functions.

    int avsprintf(char **ppasz, const char *format,va_list ap);
    int asprintf(char **ppasz, const char *format,...);
    char *afgets(char **ppasz,FILE *f);
    int afgettoch(char **ppasz,FILE *f, char chStop)
	/* Reads up to and including the next chStop character,
	   storing a \0 afterwards.  Returns number of characters read. */

Details, important reminders, and examples are available at libmib astring usage.

More Detailed Topics

String handling Comparison illustrates a number of common ways (some safe, some not) of handling strings in C. libmib astring functions make safe string handling simple.

libmib astring usage
There are just a few simple points to remember when creating, using, and destroying astrings.

astring advanced usage
Using astrensure() to write your own limitless string functions.

Example: an "fgrep-like" filter using astrings easily handles unlimited line lengths in a small amount of code.

Get the Source
Terms of Use: Free for commercial and non-commercial use under the libmib license

In your synclibmib.sh script, use
httpsync @http://www.mibsoftware.com/cgi/synclibmib.cgi?set=astring
to synchronize to the following packing list. (NOTE: These files #include <libmib/local.h>, which can be created as an empty file when no local libmib configurations are necessary.)

#-#httpsync 101 Packing List for httpsync 1.01-1.02
# Visit the httpsync home page: http://www.mibsoftware.com/httpsync/
R/libmib/astring.lst
./libmib/astring.h 5923 Mon, 14 Dec 1998 21:18:28 GMT 644
./libmib/compat.h 7327 Thu, 06 Jan 2000 15:38:46 GMT 644
./parse/astring.c 18901 Wed, 15 Dec 1999 14:40:36 GMT 644
./parse/asprintf.c 16808 Tue, 22 Dec 1998 21:34:28 GMT 644

Up to: Libmib: Character String Processing
Up to: Libmib

This Libmib documentation may not be distributed. Copyright 1998, Forrest J. Cavalier III
Mib Software
High Reuse Software Development