METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR LATE-BINDING/DYNAMIC PATHNAME RESOLUTION

摘要

Late-binding/dynamic pathname resolution can be performed by a variable identifier operating in user or kernel mode, and a pathname engine and a data structure operating in kernel mode. The variable identifier identifies a variable in pathname. The pathname engine evaluates the variable by converting the variable into a character string such that a path to an object file is established. The pathname engine determines a scope of potential character string values for the variable by mapping the variable to corresponding values stored in the data structure. Each variable has a well-defined scope of values because the only values available are the values selected for storage in the data structure. The mechanism for establishing values is extensible such that variable/value pairs can be implemented in the data structure at any time.