The println methods of java.io.PrintStream (JLS 22.22.17 - 22.22.26) specify that they print \n after printing their argument (or just \n, in 22.22.17). This relies on the interpretation that the newline character \n will indeed produce the desired effect - going to the beginning of a new line. This is the case in Unix, but not in , e.g., Windows. Indeed, the Windows implementation does not conform to the spec, and writes an explicit carriage return (\r) prior to the newline.

The spec should give a system independent characterization of the behavior of these functions.


gilad.bracha@eng 1997-07-31