deferred class
	EL_PATH_BUFFER_ROUTINES

inherit
	ANY undefine is_equal end

feature {NONE} -- Implementation

	empty_temp_path: ZSTRING
		-- temporary shared path
		do
			Result := Temp_path
			Result.wipe_out
		end

	temporary_copy (path: READABLE_STRING_GENERAL): ZSTRING
		do
			Result := Temp_path
			if Result /= path then
				Result.wipe_out
				Result.append_string_general (path)
			end
		end

	temporary_path: ZSTRING
		-- temporary shared copy of current path
		do
			Result := empty_temp_path
			append_to (Result)
		end

feature {NONE} -- Deferred

	append_to (str: EL_APPENDABLE_ZSTRING)
		deferred
		end

feature {NONE} -- Constants

	Temp_path: ZSTRING
		once
			create Result.make_empty
		end

end