while c = f.read(1)

[John Machin]

Greg McIntyre wrote:
> John Machin wrote:
> 
>>How about
>>    for c in f.read():
>>?
>>Note that this reads the whole file into memory (changing \r\n to \n on
>>Windows) ... performance-wise for large files you've spent some memory
>>but clawed back the rather large CPU time spent doing f.read(1) once per
>>character. The "more nicely" factor improves outasight, IMHO.
> 
> 
> I would if only I had any kind of guarrantee on the file size but I
> don't - this code is for reading a header out of a binary file which
> uses delimiters and escape characters to mark out its fields. I didn't
> design the format, but after cleaning up the code that deals with it, I
> may *re*design it. ;)
> 
> 
> 
>>Mild curiosity: what are you doing processing one character at a time
>>that can't be done with a built-in function, a standard module, or a
>>3rd-party module?
> 
> 
> Our company is designing a new file type. *sigh*.

Sigh indeed. If you need to read it a character at a time to parse it, 
the design is f***ed.


> Confidentiality
> prevents me from saying any more, too. If that bugs you because it's
> not open source, sorry I need a job.

Don't be so sensitive; it has strong Biblical precedent. You can believe 
  in the one true god but still bow down in the house of Rimmon or Redmond.