Functions to open a temporary file (temporary directory)

[certik]

Other languages:

• Python: tempfile module with mkstemp, mkdtemp and TemporaryDirectory
• Rust: tempfile package with tempfile, tempdir and TempDir
• Julia: mktemp, mktempdir

[epagone]

I might be missing something obvious, but why can't we just use open(status='SCRATCH',...)?

[certik]

We could. I haven't thought of that as an option.

[urbanjost]

There are some similiar routines described in
M_io and M_io.f90 and M_path.f90 in GPF. There are seperate routines for a true status='scratch' file and a unique scratchfile name; and a discussion of the pros and cons of how status='scratch' is implemented (there is a big variation in implementations) at wiki that brings up a few relevant points about how depending on status='scratch' has pitfalls because of bad implementations. I really like the idea of making a scratch directory, especially if it was cleaned up automatically like a scratch file should be; I do not have anything like that. The python implementation does not clean up at termination automatically.

[certik]

Python's mkdtemp does not clean up, but TemporaryDirectory does.

[jvdp1]

I really like the idea of making a scratch directory, especially if it was cleaned up automatically like a scratch file should be; I do not have anything like that.

@urbanjost: I like this idea too. Would it be possible with derived types and a final procedure?

[certik]

Yes, we should use a derived type with a finalizer for this. I updated the issue description with links to temporary files and directories implementation in Python, Rust and Julia.