Subj : System resource wrapping
To   : netscape.public.mozilla.jseng
From : Matthew Mondor
Date : Thu Feb 10 2005 07:09 am

Hi,

I have created a custom class with SpiderMonkey which needs to wrap a
filedescriptor internally. When the object is constructed, it allocates
necessary system resources, including opening a file and storing the
filedescriptor.  This data is stored in the private member of the
object, and retreived by other related methods of that class.  This
seems to be working well so far, however I have been wondering:

Since these objects hold a filedescriptor to an open file, and that
there is a close() method which the caller uses at will to free that
resource, is it possible for GC operation in some circumstances to call
the finalizer function of that object inadvertantly?  If so, I can close
all resources in the finalizer, but wouldn't the user like magically
loose it's object at times?

Since this is sortof a user script controlled resource, unlike most
temporary objects which can be discarded implicitely, these need to be
discarded explicitely in general.  Does this mean that I should use
something like JS_AddRoot() to prevent any kind of inadvertent GC
operation on them?  I.E. is this a proper candidate to be added to the
root.

Thanks,
Matt

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