get_flag versus get_sdf

[Niemand]

Some while ago we had a discussion of the usage of these two supposedly identical calls. There was some feeling that get_sdf was somehow less trustworthy, although I was not able to identify why. Does anyone know of any actual differences between them, or are they really just the same as they should be?

[Nioca]

By all rights, the both appear to function exactly alike. However, I have had get_sdf kick out an error now and then for no particular reason.

[Dintiradan]

For consistency, I'd use get_flag, because there is no set_sdf or inc_sdf, just set_flag and inc_flag. I think JV just uses get_flag.

 

EDIT: According to the Wikibook reference:

Quote:

short get_flag(short a,short

Identical to get_sdf.

 

short get_sdf(short a,short

Returns SDF(a,.

So I'm guessing JV just had get_sdf to begin with, then added get_flag for consistency, leaving get_sdf just in case some of his code still referenced it.

 

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Do not use for drying pets.

- Warning label on a microwave

[Lazarus.]

I'd never heard of (or experienced) problems with get_sdf. Then again I've never used it or seen anyone else use it. I've used get_flag from the start, pretty much for the reasons Dintiradan just said-- using set_flag and get_sdf is just stupid (Plus for some reason flag seems easier to type than sdf. Which makes no sense since it has an extra character-- maybe it's more natural for me since it's a real word?)