[RFA] Reverse debugging, part 3/3: user interface / docs

[Michael Snyder]

Eli Zaretskii wrote:
>>Date: Tue, 18 Apr 2006 11:56:15 -0700
>>From: Michael Snyder <msnyder@redhat.com>
>>CC: gdb-patches@sources.redhat.com
>>
>>
>>>>>>+                                                 Behavior of 
>>>>>>+ asynchronous signals depends on the target environment.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>This is too vague.  Can we at least mention the possible behaviors, or
>>>>>just the most common/expected ones?  The reader should get some idea
>>>>>of what might happen.
>>>
>>>You didn't change anything in response to this comment.
>>
>>Well, I don't really have any idea what might happen --
>>and it's really out of GDB's hands.  The target might do
>>(almost literally) anything.  It might ignore asynchronous
>>signals completely.  It might record and reproduce them
>>faithfully.  It might stick them in randomly.
> 
> 
> Well, for starters, even the above text should be better than
> nothing.

Honestly, rather than insert an entire paragraph about how
we don't really understand how it will behave, I'd feel better
just removing the sentence that mentions asynchronous signals.

> However, don't you have at least one target that supports reverse
> debugging?  If so, we have at least one specific type of behavior we
> can describe, don't we?

a) I'm not sure what it does
b) I'm not sure if the implementer of my target gave it any thought
c) I've no reason to believe that another target would behave
at all similarly.

>>>You left "backward" in the text.
>>
>>Um, yeah... Eli, the text already contains "backward" twice, and
>>"backwards" only once, including *both* phrases "search backward"
>>and "search backwards".  I'm not convinced one is more correct
>>than the other, nor that a consistant usage is demonstrated in
>>context.
>>
>>That said, I guess I don't care all that strongly -- but "backward"
>>sounds more correct to me here.
> 
> My local English grammar guru claims that ``backwards'' is the correct
> usage; ``backward'' as an adjective means ``retarded''.

Well, as a native speaker, I disagree with your guru,
and so does dictionary.com: that meaning is only the
third listed.  Note especially the "usage note" at the end.

back·ward   Audio pronunciation of "backward" ( P )  Pronunciation Key 
(bkwrd)
adj.

    1. Directed or facing toward the back or rear.
    2. Done or arranged in a manner or order that is opposite to 
previous occurrence or normal use.
    3. Unwilling to act; reluctant; shy.
    4. Behind others in progress or development: The technology was 
backward, but the system worked.


adv. or back·wards (-wrdz)

    1. To or toward the back or rear.
    2. With the back leading.
    3. In a reverse manner or order.
    4. To, toward, or into the past.
    5. Toward a worse or less advanced condition.

backward·ly adv.
backward·ness n.

     Usage Note: The adverb may be spelled backward or backwards, and 
these forms are interchangeable: stepped backward; a mirror facing 
backwards. In Standard English, however, the adjective has no -s: a 
backward view.