id	summary	reporter	owner	description	type	status	priority	milestone	component	version	resolution	keywords	cc	os	architecture	failure	difficulty	testcase	blockedby	blocking	related
1590	Libraries proposal: Add System.Info.isWindows	neil		"Currently the recognised way to test if your application is being run on Windows is:

{{{
import System.Info

.... = os == ""mingw""
}}}

This is wrong on so many levels!

# The return result of os is NOT an operating system
# The result mingw does not imply that mingw is installed
# String comparisons are not very safe, a typo stops this working
# In GHC this comparison will take place at runtime, even though its a constant

Since nearly all uses of System.Info.os are to check if the operating system is Windows, adding an explicit isWindows function would simplify things.

Proposal:

Add System.Info.isWindows :: Bool

This value should return True on all Windows systems (Win 1.0 ... Vista), and False on all other systems.

Deadline:

2 weeks from the end of discussion. Please discuss on the libraries@ mailing list."	proposal	closed	normal	Not GHC	libraries/base		wontfix		ndmitchell@…	Unknown/Multiple	Unknown/Multiple		Unknown