[erlang-questions] Retry: ERTS external term format questions.

[Kenneth Lundin]

Hi,

NEW_REFERENCE_EXT replaces REFERENCE_EXT starting from OTP R6B (1997).
>From the introduction of NEW REFERENCE_EXT the old format
(REFERENCE_EXT) is
only used by Erlang systems older than the above mentioned and newer
systems up to 2 major releases after when the new format was
introduced will send them to
the older systems to retain backwards compaibility.

The same goes for NEW_FUN_EXT and FUN_EXT except that the new format
was introduced in as I remember it a somewhat later release , but
still a long time ago.

So in practice the formats REFERENCE_EXT and FUN_EXT will never occur
in Erlang/OTP systems
from version R10B or newer. And I don't think you have reason to
support or use older systems than that.

The documentation about the external protocol which you find here
http://www.erlang.org/doc/apps/erts/erl_ext_dist.html#8 need to
clarify this.
Need to clarify the distribution version used at the handshake and
it's relation to OTP and ERTS versions.

/Regards Kenneth Erlang/OTP team Ericsson

2008/7/30 Michael T. Richter <ttmrichter@REDACTED>:
> Does anybody have some guidance here?  Even a pointer to the appropriate
> docs would be enough.
>
> -------- Forwarded Message --------
>
> From: Michael T. Richter <ttmrichter@REDACTED>
> Reply-To: ttmrichter@REDACTED
> To: erlang-questions@REDACTED
> Subject: ERTS external term format questions.
> Date: Fri, 18 Jul 2008 14:59:11 +0800
>
> For testing purposes I need to be able to generate every type of the
> External Term Format.  I've been able to do this for every type except
> REFERENCE_EXT (the system always gives me a NEW_REFERENCE_EXT) and FUN_EXT
> (the system always gives me a NEW_FUN_EXT).  How would I go about making the
> run-time generate the older forms from terms?
>
> --
> Michael T. Richter <ttmrichter@REDACTED> (GoogleTalk: ttmrichter@REDACTED)
> I have to wonder why people think that when they can't manage local
> personnel within easy strangling and shooting distance, then they can manage
> personnel thousands of miles away that have different languages, cultures,
> and business rules. (Joe Celko)
>
> --
> Michael T. Richter <ttmrichter@REDACTED> (GoogleTalk: ttmrichter@REDACTED)
> A well-designed and humane interface does not need to be split into beginner
> and expert subsystems. (Jef Raskin)
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