For instance, I can use the word read for so many different things...
reading from an ftp site, reading from a web page, getting a directory
listing, reading a file, and on and on. Is there something internal in the
read function that does something like
if (arg.type == "ftp"){
// Do the ftp read
}
else if(arg.type == "file"){
// Read a file from the filesystem
}
etc. (you get the idea)? So is it impossible to 'add' capabilities to "read"
without "overloading" the word so it wouldn't be able to be used as it
normally is? For instance, if I wanted to be able to say:
read pnm://whatever-real-audio-file
and have it do something over pnm (whatever that is... it's something the
realplayer uses). In other words, add a new protocol capability (but still
be able to say: read ftp://ftp.site.com).
or read audiobook://blahblah
and have read be some kind of speech synthesizer and actually "read" the
book. This is a silly example, but you get the idea.
Thanks.
Keith
