79 |
79 |
80 documentation |
80 documentation |
81 " |
81 " |
82 UninterpretedBytes provides the common protocol for byte-storage |
82 UninterpretedBytes provides the common protocol for byte-storage |
83 containers; concrete subclasses are |
83 containers; concrete subclasses are |
84 ByteArray (which store the bytes within the Smalltalk object memory) |
84 ByteArray (which store the bytes within the Smalltalk object memory) |
85 String (knows that the bytes represent characters) |
85 String (knows that the bytes represent characters) |
86 and |
86 and |
87 ExternalBytes (which store the bytes in the malloc-heap). |
87 ExternalBytes (which store the bytes in the malloc-heap). |
88 |
88 |
89 UninterpretedBytes itself is abstract, so no instances of it can be created. |
89 UninterpretedBytes itself is abstract, so no instances of it can be created. |
90 |
90 |
91 [See also:] |
91 [See also:] |
92 ByteArray String ExternalBytes |
92 ByteArray String ExternalBytes |
93 |
93 |
94 [author:] |
94 [author:] |
95 Claus Gittinger |
95 Claus Gittinger |
96 |
96 |
97 [Notice:] |
97 [Notice:] |
98 Notice the confusion due to multiple methods with the same |
98 Notice the confusion due to multiple methods with the same |
99 functionality (i.e. 'xxxx:MSB:' vs. 'xxxx:bigEndian:'). |
99 functionality (i.e. 'xxxx:MSB:' vs. 'xxxx:bigEndian:'). |
100 The reason is that at the time this class was written, |
100 The reason is that at the time this class was written, |
101 ST80 sid not offer protocol to specify the byteOrder, and |
101 ST80 did not offer protocol to specify the byteOrder, and |
102 ST/X provided methods ending in 'MSB:' for this. |
102 ST/X provided methods ending in 'MSB:' for this. |
103 In the meanwhile, VW added protocol ending in 'bigEndian:', |
103 In the meanwhile, VW added protocol ending in 'bigEndian:', |
104 which has been added here for compatibility. |
104 which has been added here for compatibility. |
105 (certainly a point, where an ansi-standard will help) |
105 (certainly a point, where an ansi-standard will help) |
106 " |
106 " |
107 ! ! |
107 ! ! |
108 |
108 |
109 !UninterpretedBytes class methodsFor:'initialization'! |
109 !UninterpretedBytes class methodsFor:'initialization'! |
110 |
110 |