Thorsten Froehlich <tho### [at] trfde> wrote:
> Jan T. Kim wrote:
> > How do macros necessitate searchable files?
>
> The short answer: Macros can be self-modifying by writing to files.

Ok -- that answer is spot on, modifications to macros in files are
clearly not compatible with the idea of using the data structures
parsed from the file (possibly before modification).

However, would it not be possible to evolve the parser such that it
fseeks only if that is really needed, so that a straightforward scene
that doesn't involve anything fancy such as modifying files etc. can
be parsed from a non-seekable stream?

> Of course, it is far more complex than this.

You're making me curious.

Best regards, Jan

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