[fpc-devel] Memory consumed by strings

[listmember]

On 2008-11-23 15:10, Marco van de Voort wrote:
> In our previous episode, listmember said:

[]..

>> I'd like to know this, in particular, for FPC ana Lazarus --to begin with.
>>
>> And, the reason I'd like to know this is this: Whenever I suggest that
>> char size be increased to 4, the idea gets opposed on the grouds that it
>> will need huge memory --4 times as much.
>
> That's not the only reason:
> - more memory also means slower copy.

True. But, being multiples of 4-bytes, may compenmsate for it. Don't 
quote me on this though.

> - Most OSes seem to use uTF-8 and UTF-16, with -32 you would an island, and
> the avg text editors might not be able to read what you write

The answer to that is this:

1) When inputting/outputting text to/from file or the OS, you use UTF-8 
(or whatever is native/required).

2) You do not make UTF-32 mandatory. But, it should be there for those 
(and those cases) that need it.