Rqt-close — Odin

Close_Handle :: proc(h: windows.HANDLE) -> bool if h == windows.INVALID_HANDLE_VALUE do return true return windows.CloseHandle(h)

Example:

This does not replace manual closing but provides a fallback for global resources. Because rqt-close is not a standard library function, writing cross-platform code requires abstraction. Consider:

import "core:runtime" cleanup_my_resource :: proc(data: rawptr) handle := cast(^windows.HANDLE)data CloseHandle(handle^) odin rqt-close

h := CreateFile("data.txt", ...) defer CloseHandle(h) // Guaranteed to run on scope exit // ... use h ...

init_program :: proc() my_handle := CreateFile(...) runtime.add_cleanup(cleanup_my_resource, &my_handle)

If you have dependent resources (e.g., a file mapping before the file handle), close child resources first. 3. Defer is Your Friend Odin’s defer statement is perfect for pairing allocation with release: Close_Handle :: proc(h: windows

In the landscape of modern programming languages, automatic garbage collection and RAII (Resource Acquisition Is Initialization) have become the norm. The Odin programming language, however, takes a distinct path. It embraces simplicity, data-orientation, and explicit control. One of the key functions that exemplifies this philosophy is rqt-close (often accessed via the core:sys/windows or similar platform-specific bindings, or as part of a custom runtime).

In Odin, every open deserves a close, every create a destroy. Your future self (and your operating system) will thank you.

Odin’s lack of automatic cleanup is a feature, not a bug. It forces you to think about resource lifetimes at every step, leading to more predictable and often more efficient software. The rqt-close pattern—whether you name it that or simply call CloseHandle directly—is the cornerstone of robust system programming in Odin. Defer is Your Friend Odin’s defer statement is

if my_handle != INVALID_HANDLE CloseHandle(my_handle) my_handle = INVALID_HANDLE

close_resource :: proc(resource: ^Raw_Resource) when ODIN_OS == "windows" sys.windows.CloseHandle(resource.handle) else when ODIN_OS == "linux" sys.linux.close(resource.fd) resource.valid = false

| Platform | Resource Type | Close Function | |----------|---------------|----------------| | Windows | HANDLE | CloseHandle | | Linux / macOS | file descriptor | close (syscall or libc) | | WebAssembly (WASI) | fd | fd_close |