Groups > comp.lang.c > #381952

Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c

From	Malcolm McLean <malcolm.arthur.mclean@gmail.com>
Newsgroups	comp.lang.c
Subject	Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c
Date	2024-02-07 08:59 +0000
Organization	A noiseless patient Spider
Message-ID	<upvgp1$1bs8q$1@dont-email.me> (permalink)
References	(3 earlier) <uprec5$eb3i$2@dont-email.me> <20240205124031.788@kylheku.com> <upsrh5$qb8m$1@dont-email.me> <upuf0v$13gvv$1@dont-email.me> <upvcv5$1bcum$1@dont-email.me>

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On 07/02/2024 07:54, David Brown wrote:
> On 07/02/2024 00:23, Lawrence D'Oliveiro wrote:
>> On Tue, 6 Feb 2024 09:44:20 +0100, David Brown wrote:
>>
>>> They reuse "temp" variables instead of making new ones.
>>
>> I like to limit the scope of my temporary variables. In C, this is as 
>> easy
>> as sticking a pair of braces around a few statements.
> 
> Generally, you want to have the minimum practical scope for your local 
> variables.  It's rare that you need to add braces just to make a scope 
> for a variable - usually you have enough braces in loops or conditionals 
> - but it happens.
> 
The two common patterns are to give each variable the minimum scope, or 
to decare all variables at the start of the function and give them all 
function scope.

The case for minimum scope is the same as the case for scope itself. The 
variable is accessible where it is used and not elsewhere, which makes 
it less likely it will be used in error, and means there are fewer names 
to understand.

However there are also strong arguments for ducntion scope. A function 
is a natural unit. Adn all the varibales used in that unit are listed 
together and, ideally, commented. So at a glance you can see what is in 
scope and what is being operated on. And there are only three levels of 
scope. A varibale is global, or it is file scope, or it is scoped to the 
function.

I tend to prefer function scope for C. However I use a lot of C++ these 
days, and in C++ local scope is often better, and in some cases even 
necessary. So I find that I'm tending to use local scope in C more.

-- 
Check out Basic Algorithms and my other books:
https://www.lulu.com/spotlight/bgy1mm

Thread

What I've learned in comp.lang.c bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2024-02-05 01:09 +0000
  Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c Kaz Kylheku <433-929-6894@kylheku.com> - 2024-02-05 05:58 +0000
    Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c "Chris M. Thomasson" <chris.m.thomasson.1@gmail.com> - 2024-02-04 22:49 -0800
      Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c Kaz Kylheku <433-929-6894@kylheku.com> - 2024-02-05 07:03 +0000
        Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c "Chris M. Thomasson" <chris.m.thomasson.1@gmail.com> - 2024-02-04 23:51 -0800
          Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c "Chris M. Thomasson" <chris.m.thomasson.1@gmail.com> - 2024-02-04 23:52 -0800
            Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c Jan van den Broek <balglaas@dds.nl> - 2024-02-05 08:36 +0000
    Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2024-02-05 18:23 +0200
    Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2024-02-05 18:32 +0200
      Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2024-02-05 20:53 +0100
        Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c Kaz Kylheku <433-929-6894@kylheku.com> - 2024-02-05 20:53 +0000
          Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2024-02-06 09:44 +0100
            Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c "Chris M. Thomasson" <chris.m.thomasson.1@gmail.com> - 2024-02-06 01:03 -0800
            Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2024-02-06 13:41 +0200
              Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2024-02-06 13:08 +0100
            Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c Lawrence D'Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2024-02-06 23:23 +0000
              Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2024-02-07 08:54 +0100
                Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c Malcolm McLean <malcolm.arthur.mclean@gmail.com> - 2024-02-07 08:59 +0000
                Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2024-02-07 10:47 +0000
                Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2024-02-07 11:04 +0000
                Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2024-02-07 14:21 +0100
                Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2024-02-07 14:24 +0000
                Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2024-02-07 21:30 +0100
                Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2024-02-07 15:36 +0000
                Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2024-02-07 18:05 +0000
                Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2024-02-07 18:26 +0000
                Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2024-02-07 19:53 +0000
                Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c Lawrence D'Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2024-02-07 21:38 +0000
                Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c Malcolm McLean <malcolm.arthur.mclean@gmail.com> - 2024-02-08 00:29 +0000
                Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2024-02-07 21:37 +0100
                Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2024-02-07 22:52 +0000
                Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c Kaz Kylheku <433-929-6894@kylheku.com> - 2024-02-08 01:13 +0000
                Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2024-02-08 02:09 +0000
                Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c Kaz Kylheku <433-929-6894@kylheku.com> - 2024-02-08 03:07 +0000
                Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2024-02-08 14:17 +0000
                Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2024-02-08 16:02 -0800
                Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2024-02-09 00:48 +0000
                Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2024-02-09 08:53 +0100
                Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2024-02-10 21:55 -0800
                Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2024-02-08 13:01 +0100
                Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2024-02-08 11:37 +0000
                Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c Malcolm McLean <malcolm.arthur.mclean@gmail.com> - 2024-02-08 12:10 +0000
                Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2024-02-08 13:24 +0100
                Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c Malcolm McLean <malcolm.arthur.mclean@gmail.com> - 2024-02-08 13:03 +0000
                Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2024-02-08 13:17 +0000
                Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2024-02-08 16:52 +0100
                Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2024-02-08 17:17 +0000
                Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2024-02-09 14:50 -0800
                Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c Malcolm McLean <malcolm.arthur.mclean@gmail.com> - 2024-02-07 12:44 +0000
                Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2024-02-07 14:49 +0100
                Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2024-02-07 16:13 +0000
                Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2024-02-07 08:21 -0800
                Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2024-02-07 14:01 +0100
                Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c Richard Harnden <richard.nospam@gmail.invalid> - 2024-02-07 13:21 +0000
                Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c Malcolm McLean <malcolm.arthur.mclean@gmail.com> - 2024-02-07 13:42 +0000
                Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2024-02-07 16:17 +0100
                Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c Lawrence D'Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2024-02-07 21:34 +0000
                Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2024-02-07 16:21 +0000
                Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2024-02-08 13:26 +0200
                Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2024-02-07 10:04 +0000
                Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2024-02-07 14:51 +0100
                Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2024-02-07 15:30 +0000
                Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c Malcolm McLean <malcolm.arthur.mclean@gmail.com> - 2024-02-07 15:45 +0000
                Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2024-02-07 21:44 +0100
                Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c Malcolm McLean <malcolm.arthur.mclean@gmail.com> - 2024-02-08 00:33 +0000
                Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c Kaz Kylheku <433-929-6894@kylheku.com> - 2024-02-08 01:30 +0000
                Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c Lawrence D'Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2024-02-08 01:38 +0000
                Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c Malcolm McLean <malcolm.arthur.mclean@gmail.com> - 2024-02-08 02:21 +0000
                Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c Kaz Kylheku <433-929-6894@kylheku.com> - 2024-02-08 03:07 +0000
                Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2024-02-08 11:45 +0000
                Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c Malcolm McLean <malcolm.arthur.mclean@gmail.com> - 2024-02-08 12:15 +0000
                Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2024-02-08 13:29 +0100
                Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c Malcolm McLean <malcolm.arthur.mclean@gmail.com> - 2024-02-08 12:55 +0000
                Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2024-02-09 09:02 +0100
                Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2024-02-08 16:09 +0000
                Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c Richard Harnden <richard.nospam@gmail.invalid> - 2024-02-08 16:28 +0000
                Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2024-02-08 17:13 +0000
                Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2024-02-08 17:53 -0800
    Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2024-02-05 19:02 +0200
      Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c Lawrence D'Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2024-02-05 23:28 +0000
        Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c Richard Harnden <richard.nospam@gmail.invalid> - 2024-02-05 23:40 +0000
        Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2024-02-06 01:46 +0200
          Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2024-02-06 09:54 +0100
        Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c "Chris M. Thomasson" <chris.m.thomasson.1@gmail.com> - 2024-02-05 16:03 -0800
          Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c "Chris M. Thomasson" <chris.m.thomasson.1@gmail.com> - 2024-02-05 16:06 -0800
        Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2024-02-06 09:50 +0100
          Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c "Chris M. Thomasson" <chris.m.thomasson.1@gmail.com> - 2024-02-06 01:01 -0800
          Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c Lawrence D'Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2024-02-06 23:24 +0000
            Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2024-02-07 08:56 +0100
              Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2024-02-07 12:09 +0200
                Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2024-02-07 15:03 +0100
              Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2024-02-07 16:25 +0000
                Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2024-02-07 21:49 +0100
                Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c "Chris M. Thomasson" <chris.m.thomasson.1@gmail.com> - 2024-02-07 13:04 -0800
                Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2024-02-07 23:37 +0200
                Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2024-02-08 08:52 +0100
                Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2024-02-09 15:55 +0200
                Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2024-02-09 15:29 +0100
                Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2024-02-09 16:52 +0200
                Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2024-02-09 17:22 +0100
                Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c Lawrence D'Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2024-02-10 07:18 +0000
                Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2024-02-10 17:11 +0100
                Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c Lawrence D'Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2024-02-10 21:23 +0000
                Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2024-02-11 14:01 +0100
                Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c Lawrence D'Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2024-02-07 21:41 +0000
    Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2024-02-07 02:18 +0000
      Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2024-02-07 09:30 +0100
      Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c Malcolm McLean <malcolm.arthur.mclean@gmail.com> - 2024-02-07 09:04 +0000
      Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c Kaz Kylheku <433-929-6894@kylheku.com> - 2024-02-07 23:24 +0000
        Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2024-02-08 01:46 +0000
          Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c Kaz Kylheku <433-929-6894@kylheku.com> - 2024-02-08 02:50 +0000
            Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2024-02-08 11:08 +0000
            Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2024-02-08 13:10 +0200
              Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c Kaz Kylheku <433-929-6894@kylheku.com> - 2024-02-08 17:48 +0000
                Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2024-02-08 21:30 +0200
                Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2024-02-08 20:39 +0000
                Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c "Chris M. Thomasson" <chris.m.thomasson.1@gmail.com> - 2024-02-08 13:39 -0800
                Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2024-02-08 14:18 -0800
                Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c gazelle@shell.xmission.com (Kenny McCormack) - 2024-02-08 22:29 +0000
                Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c "Chris M. Thomasson" <chris.m.thomasson.1@gmail.com> - 2024-02-08 14:43 -0800
                Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2024-02-09 09:12 +0100
  Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2024-02-04 23:36 -0800
    Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2024-02-05 14:52 +0000
      Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c gazelle@shell.xmission.com (Kenny McCormack) - 2024-02-05 22:58 +0000
    Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c Jim Jackson <jj@franjam.org.uk> - 2024-02-05 18:01 +0000
  Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c Malcolm McLean <malcolm.arthur.mclean@gmail.com> - 2024-02-05 08:29 +0000
    Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2024-02-07 01:35 +0000
      Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c Kaz Kylheku <433-929-6894@kylheku.com> - 2024-02-07 02:26 +0000
        Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2024-02-07 10:47 +0000
  Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c Dan Purgert <dan@djph.net> - 2024-02-05 11:03 +0000
  Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2024-02-05 13:15 +0100
    Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2024-02-05 14:09 +0000
  Re: What I've learned in comp.lang.c Lawrence D'Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2024-02-05 23:29 +0000

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