application architecture

[Nicholas Leippe]

On Saturday 05 January 2008, Doran L. Barton wrote:
> Your idea of modifying the configuration file and sending a signal to the
> main program to re-read its configuration is the first idea I had as I was
> reading your message. I wonder how much trouble it would be to simply add a
> periodic check in the main program to monitor the configuration file for
> changes. Without knowing the nature of the program, I can't really offer
> any advice on whether that would be a good approach or not but it might be
> something to consider.

I would recommend requiring a signal. You don't want the program to pick up 
partial changes that might occur if you're messing around with the file by 
hand...  Besides, polling is evil ;)