It seems only prudent to avoid two-argument open() whenever the name of the file is in any way variable. The danger of sudden misbehavior when a filename begins with whitespace ... not to mention the danger of ">" and "|" ... urge the use of 3-arg open() at least. And of course there is great flexibility in sysopen().

Now, have I missed this particular boat, or are most uses of open() just plain dinghy?

    -- Chip Salzenberg, Free-Floating Agent of Chaos