[Python-Dev] wait time [was: Ext4 data loss]

[Steven D'Aprano]

On Fri, 13 Mar 2009 11:27:54 am R. David Murray wrote:
> Seriously, though, the point is that IMO an application should not be
> calling fsync unless it provides a way for that behavior to be
> controlled by the user.

An admirable approach, but also a sweeping generalisation. Who is your 
expected user-base? Power users, who insist on being given the ability 
to configure every last aspect of the application behaviour? Or regular 
users who will be intimidated if you ask them to make the choice? Every 
configuration choice has a cost: not only does it require more effort 
to code and maintain, but it leads to a combinatorial explosion of test 
paths and greater opportunity for bugs. Why pay that cost if your 
application users won't consider the choice a feature? By all means 
give the user the option to make that choice, if they will consider it 
a feature.

The point is that these are *application* decisions, not *language* 
decisions. Python shouldn't be making those decisions, but should be 
enabling application developers to make them.



-- 
Steven D'Aprano