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Re: Types in C

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From Uncle Steve <stevet810@gmail.com>
Newsgroups comp.lang.c
Subject Re: Types in C
Date Mon, 23 May 2011 17:53:24 -0400
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On Tue, May 24, 2011 at 09:25:29AM +1200, Ian Collins wrote:
> On 05/24/11 08:51 AM, Uncle Steve wrote:
> >On Mon, May 23, 2011 at 07:45:24PM +0000, Seebs wrote:
> >>On 2011-05-23, Keith Thompson<kst-u@mib.org>  wrote:
> >>>Just a quibble: size_t may be exactly the same type as unsigned long,
> >>>since a typedef merely creates an alias for an existing type, not
> >>>a new and distinct type.  plain char and signed char (for example)
> >>>are distinct in a way that size_t and unsigned long (for example)
> >>>are not.
> >>
> >>True.  Although, possibly confusingly, there are places where it seems
> >>that the thing a typedef creates is itself then called "a type".  The
> >>wording is a bit fuzzy.
> >>
> >>We all know what we mean, I think.  You could say it several ways:
> >>
> >>	Typedef does not actually create types; instead, it creates
> >>	names which refer to existing types.
> >>
> >>	Typedef creates types, but those types are identical to existing
> >>	types and can be used interchangably with them.
> >
> >How about the idea that typedefs create aliases for the basic built-in
> >types supplied by the language spec.?
> 
> A typedef may provide an alias to any existing type, built-in, user 
> defined or even incomplete.

There are no "user defined" types in C.  Structures and unions are
aggregates of basic types (and structures/unions).  I believe
incomplete types are a (usually temporary) artifact of the compilation
process and you won't ever see them in a running program.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I've never heard of a C compiler that
allows you to define something like a BCD integer type when the
compiler has no built-in support for it.  This is reasonable since the
compiler can only generate arithmetic code for types it 'understands'.
If you invent your own arithmetic type (as they do in the gmp
library) the compiler 'sees' it as opaque binary data, and arithmetic
operations are carried out with ... macros and function calls.

BTW, have a look at the gmp.h header and note that they do not shy
away from macro-like functions.  Not that I care a whole lot, but I'd
say the writers of the gmp library probably know more than you do
about the suitability of inline functions versus macros and when to
use each.  Just a 'feeling' on the matter, which is not to say that
you're entirely wrong.



Regards,

Uncle Steve

-- 
Should a professional politician be charged with molestation if he
kisses babies while attending political rallies?

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Types in C jacob navia <jacob@spamsink.net> - 2011-05-22 21:29 +0200
  Re: Types in C Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2011-05-22 12:48 -0700
  Re: Types in C Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2011-05-22 23:03 +0100
    Re: Types in C jacob navia <jacob@spamsink.net> - 2011-05-23 10:35 +0200
      Re: Types in C Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2011-05-23 08:40 -0700
        Re: Types in C Seebs <usenet-nospam@seebs.net> - 2011-05-23 17:19 +0000
          Re: Types in C John Gordon <gordon@panix.com> - 2011-05-23 17:54 +0000
            Re: Types in C Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2011-05-23 11:33 -0700
              Re: Types in C Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2011-05-23 11:44 -0700
            Re: Types in C Seebs <usenet-nospam@seebs.net> - 2011-05-23 19:08 +0000
          Re: Types in C jacob navia <jacob@spamsink.net> - 2011-05-23 20:50 +0200
            Re: Types in C Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2011-05-23 12:11 -0700
              Re: Types in C Seebs <usenet-nospam@seebs.net> - 2011-05-23 19:45 +0000
                Re: Types in C Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2011-05-23 13:03 -0700
                Re: Types in C jacob navia <jacob@spamsink.net> - 2011-05-23 22:25 +0200
                Re: Types in C Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2011-05-23 14:38 -0700
                Re: Types in C jacob navia <jacob@spamsink.net> - 2011-05-23 23:45 +0200
                Re: Types in C Seebs <usenet-nospam@seebs.net> - 2011-05-23 22:02 +0000
                Re: Types in C jacob navia <jacob@spamsink.net> - 2011-05-24 00:10 +0200
                Re: Types in C jacob navia <jacob@spamsink.net> - 2011-05-23 22:12 +0200
                Re: Types in C Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2011-05-23 13:27 -0700
                Re: Types in C jacob navia <jacob@spamsink.net> - 2011-05-23 22:33 +0200
                Re: Types in C Martin Ambuhl <mambuhl@earthlink.net> - 2011-05-24 03:17 -0400
                Re: Types in C jacob navia <jacob@spamsink.net> - 2011-05-24 10:55 +0200
                Re: Types in C Ian Collins <ian-news@hotmail.com> - 2011-05-24 09:29 +1200
                Re: Types in C jacob navia <jacob@spamsink.net> - 2011-05-23 23:42 +0200
                Re: Types in C Ian Collins <ian-news@hotmail.com> - 2011-05-24 09:51 +1200
                Re: Types in C jacob navia <jacob@spamsink.net> - 2011-05-24 00:04 +0200
                Re: Types in C Ian Collins <ian-news@hotmail.com> - 2011-05-24 10:57 +1200
                Re: Types in C David Thompson <dave.thompson2@verizon.net> - 2011-06-01 16:33 -0400
                Re: Types in C Shao Miller <sha0.miller@gmail.com> - 2011-05-23 19:33 -0500
                Re: Types in C Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2011-05-24 08:27 -0700
                Re: Types in C Tim Rentsch <txr@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2011-05-31 00:40 -0700
                Re: Types in C jacob navia <jacob@spamsink.net> - 2011-05-31 11:32 +0200
                Re: Types in C Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2011-05-31 11:30 -0700
                Re: Types in C Tim Rentsch <txr@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2011-06-01 01:23 -0700
                Re: Types in C Uncle Steve <stevet810@gmail.com> - 2011-05-23 16:51 -0400
                Re: Types in C Ian Collins <ian-news@hotmail.com> - 2011-05-24 09:25 +1200
                Re: Types in C jacob navia <jacob@spamsink.net> - 2011-05-23 23:40 +0200
                Re: Types in C Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2011-05-24 08:36 -0700
                Re: Types in C Uncle Steve <stevet810@gmail.com> - 2011-05-23 17:53 -0400
                Re: Types in C Seebs <usenet-nospam@seebs.net> - 2011-05-23 22:24 +0000
                Re: Types in C Uncle Steve <stevet810@gmail.com> - 2011-05-23 19:23 -0400
                Re: Types in C Seebs <usenet-nospam@seebs.net> - 2011-05-23 23:57 +0000
                Re: Types in C Uncle Steve <stevet810@gmail.com> - 2011-05-23 21:22 -0400
                Re: Types in C Seebs <usenet-nospam@seebs.net> - 2011-05-24 03:46 +0000
                Re: Types in C Uncle Steve <stevet810@gmail.com> - 2011-05-24 00:24 -0400
                Re: Types in C Seebs <usenet-nospam@seebs.net> - 2011-05-24 04:44 +0000
                Re: Types in C pete <pfiland@mindspring.com> - 2011-05-24 07:46 -0400
                Re: Types in C James Kuyper <jameskuyper@verizon.net> - 2011-05-24 07:48 -0400
                Re: Types in C Ian Collins <ian-news@hotmail.com> - 2011-05-24 10:35 +1200
                Re: Types in C Seebs <usenet-nospam@seebs.net> - 2011-05-23 22:38 +0000
                Re: Types in C Ian Collins <ian-news@hotmail.com> - 2011-05-24 10:53 +1200
                Re: Types in C Seebs <usenet-nospam@seebs.net> - 2011-05-23 23:17 +0000
                Re: Types in C Ian Collins <ian-news@hotmail.com> - 2011-05-24 11:24 +1200
                Re: Types in C Seebs <usenet-nospam@seebs.net> - 2011-05-23 23:39 +0000
                Re: Types in C jacob navia <jacob@spamsink.net> - 2011-05-24 11:23 +0200
                Re: Types in C Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2011-05-24 08:46 -0700
                Re: Types in C Malcolm McLean <malcolm.mclean5@btinternet.com> - 2011-05-24 09:14 -0700
                Re: Types in C Michael Press <rubrum@pacbell.net> - 2011-05-28 21:50 -0700
                Re: Types in C "io_x" <a@b.c.invalid> - 2011-06-07 19:50 +0200
                Re: Types in C Uncle Steve <stevet810@gmail.com> - 2011-05-23 19:33 -0400
                Re: Types in C Ian Collins <ian-news@hotmail.com> - 2011-05-24 12:03 +1200
                Re: Types in C Uncle Steve <stevet810@gmail.com> - 2011-05-23 21:27 -0400
                Re: Types in C Ian Collins <ian-news@hotmail.com> - 2011-05-24 13:47 +1200
                Re: Types in C Uncle Steve <stevet810@gmail.com> - 2011-05-23 23:45 -0400
                Re: Types in C Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2011-05-24 00:07 -0700
                Re: Types in C James Kuyper <jameskuyper@verizon.net> - 2011-05-24 08:05 -0400
                Re: Types in C Shao Miller <sha0.miller@gmail.com> - 2011-05-23 19:54 -0500
                Re: Types in C Uncle Steve <stevet810@gmail.com> - 2011-05-23 21:03 -0400
                Re: Types in C Shao Miller <sha0.miller@gmail.com> - 2011-05-23 22:12 -0500
                Re: Types in C Uncle Steve <stevet810@gmail.com> - 2011-05-24 00:03 -0400
                Re: Types in C pete <pfiland@mindspring.com> - 2011-05-24 00:19 -0400
                Re: Types in C pete <pfiland@mindspring.com> - 2011-05-24 00:20 -0400
                Re: Types in C Shao Miller <sha0.miller@gmail.com> - 2011-05-24 00:46 -0500
                Re: Types in C pete <pfiland@mindspring.com> - 2011-05-24 07:36 -0400
                Re: Types in C Uncle Steve <stevet810@gmail.com> - 2011-05-24 10:58 -0400
                Re: Types in C Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2011-05-24 09:40 -0700
                Re: Types in C Uncle Steve <stevet810@gmail.com> - 2011-05-24 21:36 -0400
                Re: Types in C David Thompson <dave.thompson2@verizon.net> - 2011-06-01 16:33 -0400
                Re: Types in C Seebs <usenet-nospam@seebs.net> - 2011-05-24 16:50 +0000
                Re: Types in C Uncle Steve <stevet810@gmail.com> - 2011-05-24 21:10 -0400
                Re: Types in C Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2011-05-24 18:19 -0700
                Re: Types in C Uncle Steve <stevet810@gmail.com> - 2011-05-24 21:42 -0400
                Re: Types in C Shao Miller <sha0.miller@gmail.com> - 2011-05-24 23:47 -0500
                Re: Types in C Uncle Steve <stevet810@gmail.com> - 2011-05-25 10:13 -0400
                Re: Types in C Joe Pfeiffer <pfeiffer@cs.nmsu.edu> - 2011-05-24 22:19 -0600
                Re: Types in C Dr Nick <3-nospam@temporary-address.org.uk> - 2011-05-25 07:04 +0100
                Re: Types in C Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2011-05-25 08:53 -0700
                Re: Types in C Joe Pfeiffer <pfeiffer@cs.nmsu.edu> - 2011-05-25 10:11 -0600
                Re: Types in C Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2011-05-24 09:02 -0700
                Re: Types in C James Kuyper <jameskuyper@verizon.net> - 2011-05-24 07:37 -0400
                Re: Types in C Seebs <usenet-nospam@seebs.net> - 2011-05-23 22:02 +0000
                Re: Types in C Uncle Steve <stevet810@gmail.com> - 2011-05-23 18:15 -0400
                Re: Types in C Seebs <usenet-nospam@seebs.net> - 2011-05-23 22:25 +0000
                Re: Types in C Uncle Steve <stevet810@gmail.com> - 2011-05-23 19:39 -0400
                Re: Types in C Seebs <usenet-nospam@seebs.net> - 2011-05-23 23:57 +0000
                Re: Types in C Uncle Steve <stevet810@gmail.com> - 2011-05-23 21:10 -0400
                Re: Types in C Seebs <usenet-nospam@seebs.net> - 2011-05-24 01:58 +0000
                Re: Types in C Uncle Steve <stevet810@gmail.com> - 2011-05-23 23:56 -0400
                Re: Types in C Seebs <usenet-nospam@seebs.net> - 2011-05-24 04:32 +0000
                Re: Types in C "BartC" <bc@freeuk.com> - 2011-05-25 01:29 +0100
                Re: Types in C Shao Miller <sha0.miller@gmail.com> - 2011-05-23 22:20 -0500
                Re: Types in C Shao Miller <sha0.miller@gmail.com> - 2011-05-23 22:42 -0500
                Re: Types in C Uncle Steve <stevet810@gmail.com> - 2011-05-24 00:07 -0400
                Re: Types in C Seebs <usenet-nospam@seebs.net> - 2011-05-24 04:44 +0000
                Re: Types in C Uncle Steve <stevet810@gmail.com> - 2011-05-24 10:24 -0400
                Re: Types in C Seebs <usenet-nospam@seebs.net> - 2011-05-24 16:50 +0000
                Re: Types in C Uncle Steve <stevet810@gmail.com> - 2011-05-24 21:16 -0400
                Re: Types in C Seebs <usenet-nospam@seebs.net> - 2011-05-25 03:36 +0000
                Re: Types in C Shao Miller <sha0.miller@gmail.com> - 2011-05-24 01:26 -0500
                Re: Types in C Uncle Steve <stevet810@gmail.com> - 2011-05-24 11:04 -0400
                Re: Types in C Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2011-05-24 09:06 -0700
            Re: Types in C David Thompson <dave.thompson2@verizon.net> - 2011-06-01 16:33 -0400
  Re: Types in C Marcin Grzegorczyk <mgrzegor@poczta.onet.pl> - 2011-05-30 22:42 +0200
    Re: Types in C Shao Miller <sha0.miller@gmail.com> - 2011-05-30 17:45 -0500
      Re: Types in C Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2011-05-31 08:47 -0700
        Re: Types in C Shao Miller <sha0.miller@gmail.com> - 2011-05-31 13:54 -0400
    Re: Types in C jacob navia <jacob@spamsink.net> - 2011-05-31 00:16 +0200
      Re: Types in C Shao Miller <sha0.miller@gmail.com> - 2011-05-30 18:30 -0500
      Re: Types in C Marcin Grzegorczyk <mgrzegor@poczta.onet.pl> - 2011-06-02 22:44 +0200
        Re: Types in C jacob navia <jacob@spamsink.net> - 2011-06-02 22:49 +0200
          Re: Types in C Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2011-06-02 15:26 -0700

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