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From: Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org>
Newsgroups: comp.lang.c
Subject: Re: Understandability
Date: Wed, 13 May 2015 08:16:34 -0700
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David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> writes:
[...]
> I don't think anyone objects to calling gcc a "program", and we can all
> be happy with only a vague definition of "program".  (I doubt that this
> group could ever agree on a precise definition of "program" !)

The C standard doesn't have a formal definition of "program", but the
meaning is specified reasonably clearly in section 5.1.1.1 "Program
structure".

But you're right, just because the standard defines a term that doesn't
mean everyone here is going to agree on the definition.

And it's not unreasonable to use the word "program" to define something
other than a "C program" -- for example a command that might invoke one
or more other executables, but that still appears to the user as a
single command.

-- 
Keith Thompson (The_Other_Keith) kst-u@mib.org  <http://www.ghoti.net/~kst>
Working, but not speaking, for JetHead Development, Inc.
"We must do something.  This is something.  Therefore, we must do this."
    -- Antony Jay and Jonathan Lynn, "Yes Minister"