Re: format is locale aware

[Bruno Haible]

Hi Eric,

> However, as previous versions of m4 were NOT locale-aware, enabling
> locale support on what was supposed to be a minor release feels
> awkward

Yes; it can break some existing scripts that invoke m4.

> > If no, the fix would be in main.c: Add a
> >   setlocale (LC_NUMERIC, "C");
> > after setlocale (LC_ALL, "").
> 
> Or to use gnulib c-strtod and c-vasnprintf modules.

Well, c-strtod.c spends some time switching the locale. If the program
does not contain any other uses of the LC_NUMERIC category of the locale
(and this will also remain true in future versions of m4), it is more
efficient to switch the LC_NUMERIC category to "C" once and for all.

c-vasnprintf, OTOH, is just as efficient as vasnprintf.

Bruno