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Using "using"

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  • realJSOPR realJSOP

    I've seen a lot of code that looks something like the following:

    using (using (FileStream fs = new FileStream(path, FileMode.Create, FileAccess.ReadWrite, FileShare.None))

    I realize that this ensures that everything will be properly closed and disposed without you having to do anything, but doesn't the same thing happen when the object goes out of scope? Further, what about exception handling? Is that automatically handled as well? Is it wrong to not want to sue this construct in favor of more obvious code?

    "Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass..." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997
    -----
    "...the staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - Jason Jystad, 10/26/2001

    P Offline
    P Offline
    Pete OHanlon
    wrote on last edited by
    #2

    John using is a convenience that hides the following pattern:

    FileStream fs = null;
    try
    {
    fs = new FileStream(path, FileMode.Create, FileAccess.ReadWrite, FileShare.None);
    }
    finally
    {
    ((IDisposable)fs).Dispose();
    }

    Basically, this guarantees that the Dispose method is called regardless of whether an exception happens or not, thus freeing up unmanaged resources in this case. If a class has a Dispose method, then it should always be called because (presumably) the developers have identified that particular items have to be freed up probably because they are expensive to maintain. The added bonus here is that most implementations of Dispose call GC.SuppressFinalize(...); so the finalizer (if any) is suppressed.

    Deja View - the feeling that you've seen this post before.

    My blog | My articles

    N S L realJSOPR 4 Replies Last reply
    0
    • realJSOPR realJSOP

      I've seen a lot of code that looks something like the following:

      using (using (FileStream fs = new FileStream(path, FileMode.Create, FileAccess.ReadWrite, FileShare.None))

      I realize that this ensures that everything will be properly closed and disposed without you having to do anything, but doesn't the same thing happen when the object goes out of scope? Further, what about exception handling? Is that automatically handled as well? Is it wrong to not want to sue this construct in favor of more obvious code?

      "Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass..." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997
      -----
      "...the staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - Jason Jystad, 10/26/2001

      N Offline
      N Offline
      N a v a n e e t h
      wrote on last edited by
      #3

      John Simmons / outlaw programmer wrote:

      using (using (FileStream fs = new FileStream(path, FileMode.Create, FileAccess.ReadWrite, FileShare.None))

      I think this statement is wrong. You can use nested using statements in this way

      using(DisposableObject1)
      using(DisposableObject2)
      {
      }

      John Simmons / outlaw programmer wrote:

      but doesn't the same thing happen when the object goes out of scope?

      Do you mean it will be disposed when the scope ends ? GC will handle it, but there would be a delay in disposal. This will produce same IL which try/finally is producing. So it's just a syntactic shortcut to call Dispose() method which ensures immediate disposal.

      All C# applications should call Application.Quit(); in the beginning to avoid any .NET problems.- Unclyclopedia How to use google | Ask smart questions

      1 Reply Last reply
      0
      • P Pete OHanlon

        John using is a convenience that hides the following pattern:

        FileStream fs = null;
        try
        {
        fs = new FileStream(path, FileMode.Create, FileAccess.ReadWrite, FileShare.None);
        }
        finally
        {
        ((IDisposable)fs).Dispose();
        }

        Basically, this guarantees that the Dispose method is called regardless of whether an exception happens or not, thus freeing up unmanaged resources in this case. If a class has a Dispose method, then it should always be called because (presumably) the developers have identified that particular items have to be freed up probably because they are expensive to maintain. The added bonus here is that most implementations of Dispose call GC.SuppressFinalize(...); so the finalizer (if any) is suppressed.

        Deja View - the feeling that you've seen this post before.

        My blog | My articles

        N Offline
        N Offline
        N a v a n e e t h
        wrote on last edited by
        #4

        Pete O'Hanlon wrote:

        ((IDisposable)fs).Dispose();

        Just wondering why this cast ? fs.Dispose() will do it, Right ?

        All C# applications should call Application.Quit(); in the beginning to avoid any .NET problems.- Unclyclopedia How to use google | Ask smart questions

        T 1 Reply Last reply
        0
        • realJSOPR realJSOP

          I've seen a lot of code that looks something like the following:

          using (using (FileStream fs = new FileStream(path, FileMode.Create, FileAccess.ReadWrite, FileShare.None))

          I realize that this ensures that everything will be properly closed and disposed without you having to do anything, but doesn't the same thing happen when the object goes out of scope? Further, what about exception handling? Is that automatically handled as well? Is it wrong to not want to sue this construct in favor of more obvious code?

          "Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass..." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997
          -----
          "...the staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - Jason Jystad, 10/26/2001

          L Offline
          L Offline
          led mike
          wrote on last edited by
          #5

          John Simmons / outlaw programmer wrote:

          but doesn't the same thing happen when the object goes out of scope?

          Yes but garbage collection is non-deterministic and using offers deterministic resource clean up. I'm just the messenger, don't shoot me!

          led mike

          R 1 Reply Last reply
          0
          • realJSOPR realJSOP

            I've seen a lot of code that looks something like the following:

            using (using (FileStream fs = new FileStream(path, FileMode.Create, FileAccess.ReadWrite, FileShare.None))

            I realize that this ensures that everything will be properly closed and disposed without you having to do anything, but doesn't the same thing happen when the object goes out of scope? Further, what about exception handling? Is that automatically handled as well? Is it wrong to not want to sue this construct in favor of more obvious code?

            "Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass..." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997
            -----
            "...the staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - Jason Jystad, 10/26/2001

            G Offline
            G Offline
            Guffa
            wrote on last edited by
            #6

            John Simmons / outlaw programmer wrote:

            I realize that this ensures that everything will be properly closed and disposed without you having to do anything, but doesn't the same thing happen when the object goes out of scope?

            No, it doesn't. The memory management doesn't use reference counting, which means that nothing happens because of an object going out of scope. Because there is no possibility to add any code that will run when the object goes out of scope, the IDisposable interface was created, so that the lifetime of an object could be controlled from the code. Ordinary objects that doesn't have a specific need for any cleanup, doesn't have a Dispose method. They will just be removed when the garbage collector notices that the can be.

            Despite everything, the person most likely to be fooling you next is yourself.

            R 1 Reply Last reply
            0
            • P Pete OHanlon

              John using is a convenience that hides the following pattern:

              FileStream fs = null;
              try
              {
              fs = new FileStream(path, FileMode.Create, FileAccess.ReadWrite, FileShare.None);
              }
              finally
              {
              ((IDisposable)fs).Dispose();
              }

              Basically, this guarantees that the Dispose method is called regardless of whether an exception happens or not, thus freeing up unmanaged resources in this case. If a class has a Dispose method, then it should always be called because (presumably) the developers have identified that particular items have to be freed up probably because they are expensive to maintain. The added bonus here is that most implementations of Dispose call GC.SuppressFinalize(...); so the finalizer (if any) is suppressed.

              Deja View - the feeling that you've seen this post before.

              My blog | My articles

              S Offline
              S Offline
              S Senthil Kumar
              wrote on last edited by
              #7

              Nitpicking here, but you forgot if (fs != null) :). The finally block looks like

              if (fs != null)
              ((IDisposable)fs).Dispose();

              Regards Senthil [MVP - Visual C#] _____________________________ My Blog | My Articles | My Flickr | WinMacro

              P 1 Reply Last reply
              0
              • P Pete OHanlon

                John using is a convenience that hides the following pattern:

                FileStream fs = null;
                try
                {
                fs = new FileStream(path, FileMode.Create, FileAccess.ReadWrite, FileShare.None);
                }
                finally
                {
                ((IDisposable)fs).Dispose();
                }

                Basically, this guarantees that the Dispose method is called regardless of whether an exception happens or not, thus freeing up unmanaged resources in this case. If a class has a Dispose method, then it should always be called because (presumably) the developers have identified that particular items have to be freed up probably because they are expensive to maintain. The added bonus here is that most implementations of Dispose call GC.SuppressFinalize(...); so the finalizer (if any) is suppressed.

                Deja View - the feeling that you've seen this post before.

                My blog | My articles

                L Offline
                L Offline
                led mike
                wrote on last edited by
                #8

                Pete O'Hanlon wrote:

                because (presumably) the developers have identified that particular items have to be freed up probably because they are expensive to maintain.

                Great. And isn't this very similar to responsibility for memory allocation and freeing that makes a Garbage Collection environment so desirable? :rolleyes:  I mean you'd think a VB developer that can actually understand the Dispose Pattern could handle new and delete. I'm just saying... :-\

                led mike

                1 Reply Last reply
                0
                • N N a v a n e e t h

                  Pete O'Hanlon wrote:

                  ((IDisposable)fs).Dispose();

                  Just wondering why this cast ? fs.Dispose() will do it, Right ?

                  All C# applications should call Application.Quit(); in the beginning to avoid any .NET problems.- Unclyclopedia How to use google | Ask smart questions

                  T Offline
                  T Offline
                  tgrt
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #9

                  The object will be freed, but any unmanaged resources will linger unless freed up. Implementing the IDisposable interface is the recommended way to do that. And as someone mentioned using is just a shorthand way to call it safely. Eventually the garbage collector will collect the object; however, that doesn't necessarily free resources. The finalizer will be called unless suppressed, but that will only call Dispose if you specifically do so in your finalizer code.

                  N a v a n e e t h wrote:

                  Just wondering why this cast ? fs.Dispose() will do it, Right ?

                  The object may not directly implement the interface, but may have explictly implemented it. In that case its necessary to cast the object to IDisposable.

                  C L 2 Replies Last reply
                  0
                  • realJSOPR realJSOP

                    I've seen a lot of code that looks something like the following:

                    using (using (FileStream fs = new FileStream(path, FileMode.Create, FileAccess.ReadWrite, FileShare.None))

                    I realize that this ensures that everything will be properly closed and disposed without you having to do anything, but doesn't the same thing happen when the object goes out of scope? Further, what about exception handling? Is that automatically handled as well? Is it wrong to not want to sue this construct in favor of more obvious code?

                    "Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass..." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997
                    -----
                    "...the staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - Jason Jystad, 10/26/2001

                    S Offline
                    S Offline
                    S Senthil Kumar
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #10

                    John Simmons / outlaw programmer wrote:

                    I realize that this ensures that everything will be properly closed and disposed without you having to do anything, but doesn't the same thing happen when the object goes out of scope?

                    Not when the object goes out of scope, but when the GC runs and that too only if the object has a finalizer. Garbage collection cleans up the object itself; it doesn't attempt to clean up any resources held by the object. IDisposable (and the finalizer) do the resource cleanup part.

                    Regards Senthil [MVP - Visual C#] _____________________________ My Blog | My Articles | My Flickr | WinMacro

                    1 Reply Last reply
                    0
                    • T tgrt

                      The object will be freed, but any unmanaged resources will linger unless freed up. Implementing the IDisposable interface is the recommended way to do that. And as someone mentioned using is just a shorthand way to call it safely. Eventually the garbage collector will collect the object; however, that doesn't necessarily free resources. The finalizer will be called unless suppressed, but that will only call Dispose if you specifically do so in your finalizer code.

                      N a v a n e e t h wrote:

                      Just wondering why this cast ? fs.Dispose() will do it, Right ?

                      The object may not directly implement the interface, but may have explictly implemented it. In that case its necessary to cast the object to IDisposable.

                      C Offline
                      C Offline
                      Colin Angus Mackay
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #11

                      tgrt wrote:

                      The object may not directly implement the interface

                      Did you mean "implicitly"? Both implicit and explicit implimentations are direct, surely?

                      Upcoming FREE developer events: * Developer Day Scotland Recent blog posts: * Introduction to LINQ to XML (Part 1) - (Part 2) My website | Blog

                      T 1 Reply Last reply
                      0
                      • realJSOPR realJSOP

                        I've seen a lot of code that looks something like the following:

                        using (using (FileStream fs = new FileStream(path, FileMode.Create, FileAccess.ReadWrite, FileShare.None))

                        I realize that this ensures that everything will be properly closed and disposed without you having to do anything, but doesn't the same thing happen when the object goes out of scope? Further, what about exception handling? Is that automatically handled as well? Is it wrong to not want to sue this construct in favor of more obvious code?

                        "Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass..." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997
                        -----
                        "...the staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - Jason Jystad, 10/26/2001

                        D Offline
                        D Offline
                        DavidNohejl
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #12

                        See http://www.codeproject.com/KB/cs/tinguusingstatement.aspx[^]

                        John Simmons / outlaw programmer wrote:

                        Is it wrong to not want to sue this construct in favor of more obvious code?

                        Do you want to type out all the try-finally-dispose things again and again, or understand using once and save the typing (AND reading)? edit: omfg, it took me 30min to write this and find a link :~ there wasnt any replies when i started typing...


                        [My Blog]
                        "Visual studio desperately needs some performance improvements. It is sometimes almost as slow as eclipse." - Rüdiger Klaehn
                        "Real men use mspaint for writing code and notepad for designing graphics." - Anna-Jayne Metcalfe

                        P 1 Reply Last reply
                        0
                        • C Colin Angus Mackay

                          tgrt wrote:

                          The object may not directly implement the interface

                          Did you mean "implicitly"? Both implicit and explicit implimentations are direct, surely?

                          Upcoming FREE developer events: * Developer Day Scotland Recent blog posts: * Introduction to LINQ to XML (Part 1) - (Part 2) My website | Blog

                          T Offline
                          T Offline
                          tgrt
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #13

                          Yeah. I just don't like that word. I guess direct wasn't the best substitute.

                          1 Reply Last reply
                          0
                          • realJSOPR realJSOP

                            I've seen a lot of code that looks something like the following:

                            using (using (FileStream fs = new FileStream(path, FileMode.Create, FileAccess.ReadWrite, FileShare.None))

                            I realize that this ensures that everything will be properly closed and disposed without you having to do anything, but doesn't the same thing happen when the object goes out of scope? Further, what about exception handling? Is that automatically handled as well? Is it wrong to not want to sue this construct in favor of more obvious code?

                            "Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass..." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997
                            -----
                            "...the staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - Jason Jystad, 10/26/2001

                            P Offline
                            P Offline
                            PIEBALDconsult
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #14

                            What's with the extra using ( ?

                            S 1 Reply Last reply
                            0
                            • L led mike

                              John Simmons / outlaw programmer wrote:

                              but doesn't the same thing happen when the object goes out of scope?

                              Yes but garbage collection is non-deterministic and using offers deterministic resource clean up. I'm just the messenger, don't shoot me!

                              led mike

                              R Offline
                              R Offline
                              Roger Alsing 0
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #15

                              GC and dispose are also doing different stuff. GC frees the memory allocated by the managed object. Dispose is supposed to release native resources allocated by an object. So even if you call dispose, the managed object is still present untill it gets eaten by the GC.

                              Blog: http://www.rogeralsing.com Projects: http://www.puzzleframework.com

                              1 Reply Last reply
                              0
                              • G Guffa

                                John Simmons / outlaw programmer wrote:

                                I realize that this ensures that everything will be properly closed and disposed without you having to do anything, but doesn't the same thing happen when the object goes out of scope?

                                No, it doesn't. The memory management doesn't use reference counting, which means that nothing happens because of an object going out of scope. Because there is no possibility to add any code that will run when the object goes out of scope, the IDisposable interface was created, so that the lifetime of an object could be controlled from the code. Ordinary objects that doesn't have a specific need for any cleanup, doesn't have a Dispose method. They will just be removed when the garbage collector notices that the can be.

                                Despite everything, the person most likely to be fooling you next is yourself.

                                R Offline
                                R Offline
                                Roger Alsing 0
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #16

                                >>so that the lifetime of an object could be controlled from the code. rather: Lifetime of resources used by an object could be controlled from the code. The disposable object itself will not be removed from memory when you call dispose on it..

                                Blog: http://www.rogeralsing.com Projects: http://www.puzzleframework.com

                                G 1 Reply Last reply
                                0
                                • S S Senthil Kumar

                                  Nitpicking here, but you forgot if (fs != null) :). The finally block looks like

                                  if (fs != null)
                                  ((IDisposable)fs).Dispose();

                                  Regards Senthil [MVP - Visual C#] _____________________________ My Blog | My Articles | My Flickr | WinMacro

                                  P Offline
                                  P Offline
                                  Pete OHanlon
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #17

                                  Spot on. Sorry and all that. ;)

                                  Deja View - the feeling that you've seen this post before.

                                  My blog | My articles

                                  1 Reply Last reply
                                  0
                                  • D DavidNohejl

                                    See http://www.codeproject.com/KB/cs/tinguusingstatement.aspx[^]

                                    John Simmons / outlaw programmer wrote:

                                    Is it wrong to not want to sue this construct in favor of more obvious code?

                                    Do you want to type out all the try-finally-dispose things again and again, or understand using once and save the typing (AND reading)? edit: omfg, it took me 30min to write this and find a link :~ there wasnt any replies when i started typing...


                                    [My Blog]
                                    "Visual studio desperately needs some performance improvements. It is sometimes almost as slow as eclipse." - Rüdiger Klaehn
                                    "Real men use mspaint for writing code and notepad for designing graphics." - Anna-Jayne Metcalfe

                                    P Offline
                                    P Offline
                                    Pete OHanlon
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #18

                                    dnh wrote:

                                    edit: omfg, it took me 30min to write this and find a link there wasnt any replies when i started typing...

                                    Sorry - I just typed my answer from memory which was why I missed a null check. ;)

                                    Deja View - the feeling that you've seen this post before.

                                    My blog | My articles

                                    1 Reply Last reply
                                    0
                                    • R Roger Alsing 0

                                      >>so that the lifetime of an object could be controlled from the code. rather: Lifetime of resources used by an object could be controlled from the code. The disposable object itself will not be removed from memory when you call dispose on it..

                                      Blog: http://www.rogeralsing.com Projects: http://www.puzzleframework.com

                                      G Offline
                                      G Offline
                                      Guffa
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #19

                                      Roger Alsing wrote:

                                      rather: Lifetime of resources used by an object could be controlled from the code.

                                      Good point. I should have said that it's for controlling the life cycle of the object rather than the lifetime.

                                      Despite everything, the person most likely to be fooling you next is yourself.

                                      1 Reply Last reply
                                      0
                                      • P PIEBALDconsult

                                        What's with the extra using ( ?

                                        S Offline
                                        S Offline
                                        Spacix One
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #20

                                        Wasn't this the OP's question?


                                        -Spacix All your skynet questions[^] belong to solved


                                        I dislike the black-and-white voting system on questions/answers. X|


                                        P 1 Reply Last reply
                                        0
                                        • S Spacix One

                                          Wasn't this the OP's question?


                                          -Spacix All your skynet questions[^] belong to solved


                                          I dislike the black-and-white voting system on questions/answers. X|


                                          P Offline
                                          P Offline
                                          PIEBALDconsult
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #21

                                          I can't tell.

                                          1 Reply Last reply
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