RE: One socket per AF (Was: 6to4 using ::FFFF:0000:0000/96...)

[Christian Huitema <huitema@windows.microsoft.com>]

> In the different view, letting applications to have only one socket
> interface is *simpler* than obliging them to know whether the IP layer
> works in IPv4 or IPv6.

We can debate whether that is in fact simpler. Most "simple programming" is achieved using high level constructs such as RPC or Web interfaces. The fraction of programs written on the "socket" API tend to be written by sophisticated developers who like "bare to the metal" constructs. But even if a single listening was a goal, it can be achieved without messing with address format, simply by avoiding early binding of the socket to a specific address type, and then using specific addresses in their native formats whenever necessary.

-- Christian Huitema