// The units of total_size depend on is_list and type.
  // (1) If type == TF_ATTR_STRING and is_list == 0
  //     then total_size is the byte size of the string
  //     valued attribute.
  // (2) If type == TF_ATTR_STRING and is_list == 1
  //     then total_size is the cumulative byte size
  //     of all the strings in the list.
  // (3) If type == TF_ATTR_SHAPE and is_list == 0

  /// constraint and the fact that `ssize_t` is not defined in `stdint.h`/C++
  /// standard, the return type is `int64_t`.
  ///
  /// This is thread safe.
  ///
  /// Note: the `buffer` argument is NOT a null terminated string!
  ///
  /// Plugins:
  ///   * Must set `status` to `TF_OK` if exactly `n` bytes have been read.
  ///   * Must set `status` to `TF_OUT_OF_RANGE` if fewer than `n` bytes have
  ///     been read due to EOF.