gistfile1.txt

// Stream type: tcp
* fundamental unit: buffer given to us by the OS
* list representation: array of buffers
read()    -> yields a Buffer containing whatever the OS gave us for that chunk

// Stream type: text lines (e.g. after splitting a text files into lines)
* fundamental unit: line (string)
* list representation: array
read()    -> yields a string

// Stream type: UDP datagrams (boundaries matter)
* fundamental unit: datagram (Buffer)
* list representation: array
read() -> yields a buffer containing a full datagram

// Stream type: arbitrary objects
* fundamental unit: Object
* list representation: array
... guess what?