Complexity of reallocating storage (was users command crap)

[Ozan Yigit]

In article <15325:Jan2903:19:4991 at kramden.acf.nyu.edu>
brnstnd at kramden.acf.nyu.edu (Dan Bernstein) writes:

>Any single-pass ``users'' has to either use quadratic time or be a rude
>abuser of resources. 

I think *unnecessary* multiple passes on disk files could best be described
as "a rude abuse of resource".

>Why not use two passes and be done with it?

To rephrase: ... you are using poor programming techniques. No program
should make multiple passes over a disk file when it could accomplish its
task with a single pass with hardly any effort on the programmer's part.

oz