> Is it possible to let the OS handle the collisions?
>
> For example:
>
> $last_value = system('cat counter.txt', $retval);
> $last_value++;
> $result = system('echo $last_value > counter.txt', $retval);
>
> ...just a suggestion!
Even if your OS guarantees locks on > re-direct, you'd still have the
*WRONG* number in there any time two people did this at the same time.
>
> Regards
> /Luis
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Richard Lynch [mailto:ceo@xxxxxxxxx]
> Sent: Thursday, March 10, 2005 3:14 PM
> To: Ross Hulford
> Cc: php-general@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: Re: incrementing a number from a text file
>
>> I want to read a number from an external (txt) file and increment
>> it.then save the number back on the text file.
>> I know this is possible but want a simple amd economical way to do
> this.
>
> That's what you *THINK* you want to do :-)
>
> But what happens when *TWO* users hit that same script at exactly the
> same time.
>
> At best, you get:
>
> User1 User2
> Reads 9 Reads 9
> Writes 10 Writes 10
>
> and when you should have 11, you've only got 10.
>
> [aside] "My amp goes to 11!" [/aside]
>
> But it's worse than that: It's entirely poassible that your script,
> instead of having two users write "10" one after the other, will have
> two users both trying to write "10" at EXACTLY the same time.
>
> The result is comparable to a head-on collision between two trains.
> Your file is TOAST.
>
> This is why so many early "hit counter" scripts back in the day were
> always getting messed up and reset to 0.
>
> What you really want, almost for sure, is an SQL database with
> "sequences"
>
> You have to forge those in MySQL by making a table with auto_increment.
>
> You *can* use http://php.net/flock, but even that is a Bad Idea, because
> flock under Un*x is self-imposed -- If some *other* program/script/user
> decides not change that file and doesn't use flock, well, they're not
> STOPPED from doing that.
>
> flock is therefore all too subject to human fallibility when you
> re-work, re-write, or add more code to your system.
>
> The SQL guys have worked out this problem, in all respects.
>
> This is one of those things that SEEMS so simple that turns out to be a
> hell of a lot more involved than you thought at first. So it goes.
>
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