Re: "C's Biggest Mistake"

From	David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no>
Newsgroups	comp.lang.c
Subject	Re: "C's Biggest Mistake"
Date	2018-04-14 12:56 +0200
Organization	A noiseless patient Spider
Message-ID	<pasmo5$eah$1@dont-email.me> (permalink)
References	(14 earlier) <VB3AC.546967$%a5.281677@fx21.am4> <lny3hrm6un.fsf@kst-u.example.com> <Xp5AC.405579$WW2.337807@fx08.am4> <lntvsfm3rw.fsf@kst-u.example.com> <Xz5AC.772362$rz2.129824@fx19.am4>

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On 13/04/18 19:14, bartc wrote:
> On 13/04/2018 18:09, Keith Thompson wrote:
>> bartc <bc@freeuk.com> writes:
>>> On 13/04/2018 17:03, Keith Thompson wrote:
>>>> bartc <bc@freeuk.com> writes:
>>>> [...]
>>>>> BTW I've just added nested /*...*/ comments to my C compiler. It took
>>>>> five minutes and 10 extra lines.
>>>> [...]
>>>>
>>>> Congratulations, you have a non-conforming C compiler.
>>>
>>> It's non-conforming anyway because it reads 0x123E-2 as three tokens
>>> rather than one invalid token.
>>>
>>> Amongst many other things probably.
>>>
>>> Actually my compiler hasn't changed because this was done on a copy. I
>>> expected to have to hack it around rather more than I did.
>>>
>>> Do you see my point that this would have been an utterly trivial thing
>>> to do in its earliest days?
>>
>> Sure.  Do you seriously think that the difficulty of implementing nested
>> comments had *anything* to do with the Committee's decision to disallow
>> them?
> 
> I doubt they consider the difficulty or otherwise of anything at all. 

That is mostly correct.  They consider difficulty of implementation to 
be very low weighted.  It is not irrelevant - it must be /possible/ to 
implement, and there is no point in putting something in the standard 
that will be so hard that it is unlikely to be implemented.  But the 
standards committee realises that there are vastly more people writing C 
programs than writing C compilers, and weights their choices accordingly.

That means they won't let difficultly of implementation stop them adding 
a feature.  It also means they won't let ease of implementation 
encourage them to put a feature in.

> They appear to look mainly at existing practice. So the decision lies 
> elsewhere.

Existing practice is alpha and omega in C.

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Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" bartc <bc@freeuk.com> - 2018-04-04 22:56 +0100
  Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" jacobnavia <jacob@jacob.remcomp.fr> - 2018-04-05 00:45 +0200
    Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" Jorgen Grahn <grahn+nntp@snipabacken.se> - 2018-04-04 23:07 +0000
    Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" bartc <bc@freeuk.com> - 2018-04-05 01:29 +0100
      Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" jacobnavia <jacob@jacob.remcomp.fr> - 2018-04-06 00:10 +0200
        Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" bartc <bc@freeuk.com> - 2018-04-05 23:48 +0100
  Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2018-04-05 13:31 +0000
    Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" Robert Wessel <robertwessel2@yahoo.com> - 2018-04-05 09:48 -0500
      Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" Tim Rentsch <txr@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2018-04-08 16:37 -0700
        Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2018-04-08 18:58 -0700
          Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" already5chosen@yahoo.com - 2018-04-09 00:56 -0700
            Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" Steven Petruzzellis <frelwizzen@gmail.com> - 2018-04-09 01:59 -0700
            Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" mark.bluemel@gmail.com - 2018-04-09 02:36 -0700
              Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" Steven Petruzzellis <frelwizzen@gmail.com> - 2018-04-09 03:49 -0700
            Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" bartc <bc@freeuk.com> - 2018-04-09 12:14 +0100
              Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" mark.bluemel@gmail.com - 2018-04-09 04:40 -0700
                Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" Robert Wessel <robertwessel2@yahoo.com> - 2018-04-09 22:21 -0500
                Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" Steven Petruzzellis <frelwizzen@gmail.com> - 2018-04-09 21:37 -0700
            Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" Wouter Verhelst <w@uter.be> - 2018-04-10 11:51 +0200
              Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" Steven Petruzzellis <frelwizzen@gmail.com> - 2018-04-10 07:15 -0700
              Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" already5chosen@yahoo.com - 2018-04-10 11:50 -0700
          Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" bartc <bc@freeuk.com> - 2018-04-09 11:55 +0100
    Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" bartc <bc@freeuk.com> - 2018-04-05 17:26 +0100
      Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2018-04-05 17:32 +0000
        Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2018-04-05 11:05 -0700
          Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2018-04-06 10:06 +0200
        Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" bartc <bc@freeuk.com> - 2018-04-05 19:09 +0100
          Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2018-04-05 11:23 -0700
            Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" bartc <bc@freeuk.com> - 2018-04-05 20:21 +0100
            Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" supercat@casperkitty.com - 2018-04-05 12:30 -0700
              Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2018-04-05 13:39 -0700
                Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" supercat@casperkitty.com - 2018-04-05 14:15 -0700
                Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2018-04-05 14:53 -0700
                Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" supercat@casperkitty.com - 2018-04-05 15:08 -0700
                Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" Robert Wessel <robertwessel2@yahoo.com> - 2018-04-05 16:34 -0500
          Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2018-04-05 19:01 +0000
            Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" bartc <bc@freeuk.com> - 2018-04-05 20:50 +0100
              Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2018-04-05 20:25 +0000
                Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" bartc <bc@freeuk.com> - 2018-04-05 22:07 +0100
              Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" Wouter Verhelst <w@uter.be> - 2018-04-05 22:20 +0200
                Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" jameskuyper@verizon.net - 2018-04-05 19:50 -0700
                Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" Wouter Verhelst <w@uter.be> - 2018-04-06 11:08 +0200
                Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" Steven Petruzzellis <frelwizzen@gmail.com> - 2018-04-06 04:24 -0700
              Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" Jorgen Grahn <grahn+nntp@snipabacken.se> - 2018-04-12 12:35 +0000
                Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" bartc <bc@freeuk.com> - 2018-04-12 14:02 +0100
                Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" Ian Collins <ian-news@hotmail.com> - 2018-04-13 07:18 +1200
                Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2018-04-12 20:12 +0000
                Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" bartc <bc@freeuk.com> - 2018-04-12 22:20 +0100
                Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" Ian Collins <ian-news@hotmail.com> - 2018-04-13 09:35 +1200
                Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" supercat@casperkitty.com - 2018-04-12 14:47 -0700
                Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2018-04-12 15:19 -0700
                Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" bartc <bc@freeuk.com> - 2018-04-13 01:44 +0100
                Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" Wouter Verhelst <w@uter.be> - 2018-04-13 13:04 +0200
                Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" Ed Kellett <e@kellett.im> - 2018-04-13 12:30 +0100
                Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" Steven Petruzzellis <frelwizzen@gmail.com> - 2018-04-13 05:22 -0700
                Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" bartc <bc@freeuk.com> - 2018-04-13 12:40 +0100
                Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" Wouter Verhelst <w@uter.be> - 2018-04-13 14:14 +0200
                Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" bartc <bc@freeuk.com> - 2018-04-13 13:53 +0100
                Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2018-04-13 13:52 +0000
                Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" Jorgen Grahn <grahn+nntp@snipabacken.se> - 2018-04-13 15:25 +0000
                Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" Steven Petruzzellis <frelwizzen@gmail.com> - 2018-04-13 08:45 -0700
                Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2018-04-13 08:58 -0700
                Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2018-04-13 16:24 +0000
                Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" bartc <bc@freeuk.com> - 2018-04-13 18:09 +0100
                Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2018-04-13 10:26 -0700
                Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" "Rick C. Hodgin" <rick.c.hodgin@gmail.com> - 2018-04-13 11:48 -0400
                Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2018-04-13 13:50 +0000
                Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" bartc <bc@freeuk.com> - 2018-04-13 16:00 +0100
                Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2018-04-13 09:03 -0700
                Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" "Rick C. Hodgin" <rick.c.hodgin@gmail.com> - 2018-04-13 12:06 -0400
                Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" bartc <bc@freeuk.com> - 2018-04-13 18:04 +0100
                Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2018-04-13 10:09 -0700
                Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" bartc <bc@freeuk.com> - 2018-04-13 18:14 +0100
                Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2018-04-14 12:56 +0200
                Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" Richard Damon <Richard@Damon-Family.org> - 2018-04-14 12:34 -0400
                Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" jameskuyper@verizon.net - 2018-04-14 09:59 -0700
                Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2018-04-14 12:51 -0700
                Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" Ike Naar <ike@iceland.freeshell.org> - 2018-04-15 18:52 +0000
                Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2018-04-15 12:39 -0700
                Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" Steven Petruzzellis <frelwizzen@gmail.com> - 2018-04-16 00:56 -0700
                Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" Steven Petruzzellis <frelwizzen@gmail.com> - 2018-04-15 21:49 -0700
                Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" bartc <bc@freeuk.com> - 2018-04-12 22:34 +0100
                Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" Ian Collins <ian-news@hotmail.com> - 2018-04-13 09:50 +1200
                Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" bartc <bc@freeuk.com> - 2018-04-12 23:16 +0100
                Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" Ian Collins <ian-news@hotmail.com> - 2018-04-13 10:30 +1200
                Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" bartc <bc@freeuk.com> - 2018-04-12 23:42 +0100
                Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" Ian Collins <ian-news@hotmail.com> - 2018-04-13 10:46 +1200
                Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" bartc <bc@freeuk.com> - 2018-04-13 01:21 +0100
                Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" Reinhardt Behm <rbehm@hushmail.com> - 2018-04-13 09:04 +0800
                Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" bartc <bc@freeuk.com> - 2018-04-13 02:14 +0100
                Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2018-04-13 10:03 +0200
                Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" Steven Petruzzellis <frelwizzen@gmail.com> - 2018-04-13 02:46 -0700
                Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" bartc <bc@freeuk.com> - 2018-04-13 11:22 +0100
                Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2018-04-13 13:45 +0200
                Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" bartc <bc@freeuk.com> - 2018-04-13 13:44 +0100
                Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2018-04-13 15:18 +0200
                Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" bartc <bc@freeuk.com> - 2018-04-13 18:27 +0100
                Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" Ian Collins <ian-news@hotmail.com> - 2018-04-13 13:43 +1200
                Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" Reinhardt Behm <rbehm@hushmail.com> - 2018-04-13 08:55 +0800
                Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" Steven Petruzzellis <frelwizzen@gmail.com> - 2018-04-12 06:04 -0700
                Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" Malcolm McLean <malcolm.arthur.mclean@gmail.com> - 2018-04-12 06:09 -0700
            Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" Robert Wessel <robertwessel2@yahoo.com> - 2018-04-05 16:44 -0500
          Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2018-04-06 14:46 +0200
            Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" Steven Petruzzellis <frelwizzen@gmail.com> - 2018-04-06 05:57 -0700
            Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" bartc <bc@freeuk.com> - 2018-04-06 14:31 +0100
              Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2018-04-06 16:23 +0200
                Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" Richard Damon <Richard@Damon-Family.org> - 2018-04-06 10:58 -0400
                Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2018-04-06 15:46 +0000
                Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" bartc <bc@freeuk.com> - 2018-04-06 16:18 +0100
                Re: "C's Biggest Mistake" Steven Petruzzellis <frelwizzen@gmail.com> - 2018-04-06 23:01 -0700

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