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Groups > comp.lang.c > #162822

Re: C23 (C2x) changes

From Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com>
Newsgroups comp.lang.c
Subject Re: C23 (C2x) changes
Date 2021-09-22 14:05 -0700
Organization None to speak of
Message-ID <87mto4micx.fsf@nosuchdomain.example.com> (permalink)
References <si99fr$ma4$1@dont-email.me> <sifsig$1ojn$1@gioia.aioe.org> <sig3fm$91t$1@solani.org>

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Philipp Klaus Krause <pkk@spth.de> writes:
> Am 22.09.21 um 20:27 schrieb Guillaume:
>
>> - Tagged blocks/tagged loop constructs.
>> 
>>[…]
>> 
>> That would be more elegant and easier to statically analyze than goto's.
>
> No. It would not be better than goto. Neither for users nor for static
> analysis. AFAIK this has been proposed and rejected multiple times
> before (e.g. N1989 at the London 2016 WG14 meeting).
>
> Regarding analysis (and likely also code readability), one important
> parameter is the tree-width of the control-flow graph. For C this is
> bounded by a constant plus the number of labels for goto used per
> function. The situation is similar for many other languages. And at
> least for tree-width, it has been proven that unlimited use of labeled
> break / labeled continue, like Java has, would be just as bad as
> unlimited use of goto.
>
> If you need to get out of an inner loop, just use goto. Avoiding goto by
> introducing another variant of goto that just isn't called goto won't
> make the standard better.

The proposal in N1989
    http://www.open-std.org/jtc1/sc22/wg14/www/docs/n1989.htm
was to have "break 2;" break out of two enclosing loops.  (The Bourne
shell has this feature.)  Personally, I dislike this.  It's easy to
forget to update the number when the code is rearranged, and it forces
the programmer and reader to count nesting levels -- and counting, after
all, is something that computers are really really good at.

What I'd like to see is *named* loops, with "break" and "continue"
optionally taking an argument that names the loop to be operated on.
I've used other languages with this feature, and I've found it quite
useful.

It would, of course, be equivalent to a goto targeting a point after the
end of the loop ("continue" might be a little more complicated), but the
point is that it's restricted ("break foo" can't jump to an arbitrary
location) and it documents what it's doing.

I think of "break foo" as an operation on the loop named "foo", not an
operation that refers to a specific location in the code.

It would make no difference to static analysis, but in my opinion it
would make for more legible code in the (perhaps not very common) case
where you want to break out of nested loops.

Ada has this feature.  It uses a deliberately heavy syntax for goto
labels:

    << LABEL >>
    -- ...
    goto LABEL;

but a simple identifier followed by a colon for labeled loops:

    Loop_Name:
    for I in 1..10  loop
        -- ...
        exit Loop_Name; -- Ada spells "break" as "exit"
    end loop;

Perl uses the same syntax for goto labels and loop names, which means if
you see a loop name you can't be sure without checking that there isn't
a goto somewhere that targets it.  I haven't found that to be a problem
in practice:

    Loop_Name:
    for my $i (1 .. 10) {
        # ...
        last Loop_Name; # Perl spells "break" as "last"
    }

In both languages, if you omit the label on a break/exit/last statement
it applies to the innermost enclosing loop.  Of course C would have to
do the same.

Off the top of my head, I can't think of a good simple syntax for loop
labels that's distinct from the syntax for goto labels, so perhaps a
"break name" construct could just refer to a goto label that's applied
to an iteration or switch statement.  "break foo;" where "foo" is a
label that *doesn't* apply to an iteration or switch statement would be
a constraint violation.

-- 
Keith Thompson (The_Other_Keith) Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com
Working, but not speaking, for Philips
void Void(void) { Void(); } /* The recursive call of the void */

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Thread

C23 (C2x) changes Mehdi Amini <atorrses@gmail.com> - 2021-09-20 10:54 +0430
  Re: C23 (C2x) changes David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2021-09-20 09:35 +0200
    Re: C23 (C2x) changes Mehdi Amini <atorrses@gmail.com> - 2021-09-21 11:01 +0430
  Re: C23 (C2x) changes John Bode <jfbode1029@gmail.com> - 2021-09-20 10:41 -0500
    Re: C23 (C2x) changes David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2021-09-20 18:17 +0200
      Re: C23 (C2x) changes Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2021-09-20 18:55 +0100
        Re: C23 (C2x) changes scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2021-09-20 18:21 +0000
        Re: C23 (C2x) changes David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2021-09-20 21:39 +0200
          Re: C23 (C2x) changes Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2021-09-20 21:07 +0100
            Re: C23 (C2x) changes David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2021-09-20 22:59 +0200
              Re: C23 (C2x) changes Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2021-09-20 22:29 +0100
                Re: C23 (C2x) changes Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2021-09-20 17:43 -0700
                Re: C23 (C2x) changes David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2021-09-21 17:56 +0200
                Re: C23 (C2x) changes Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2021-09-21 18:05 +0100
                Re: C23 (C2x) changes Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2021-09-21 11:42 -0700
                Re: C23 (C2x) changes David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2021-09-22 11:37 +0200
                Re: C23 (C2x) changes Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2021-09-22 11:55 +0100
                Re: C23 (C2x) changes David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2021-09-22 14:21 +0200
                Re: C23 (C2x) changes Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2021-09-22 13:58 +0100
                Re: C23 (C2x) changes Ian Pilcher <arequipeno@gmail.com> - 2021-09-22 12:02 -0500
                Re: C23 (C2x) changes scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2021-09-22 17:19 +0000
          Re: C23 (C2x) changes Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2021-09-20 23:05 +0100
            Re: C23 (C2x) changes scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2021-09-20 22:47 +0000
              Re: C23 (C2x) changes Lew Pitcher <lew.pitcher@digitalfreehold.ca> - 2021-09-20 22:58 +0000
              Re: C23 (C2x) changes Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2021-10-02 07:16 -0700
                Re: C23 (C2x) changes Branimir Maksimovic <branimir.maksimovic@icloud.com> - 2021-10-02 15:15 +0000
            Re: C23 (C2x) changes Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2021-09-20 17:45 -0700
        Re: C23 (C2x) changes Manfred <noname@add.invalid> - 2021-09-27 17:15 +0200
          Re: C23 (C2x) changes Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2021-09-27 17:38 +0100
            Re: C23 (C2x) changes Manfred <noname@add.invalid> - 2021-09-27 23:18 +0200
              Re: C23 (C2x) changes antispam@math.uni.wroc.pl - 2021-09-28 13:53 +0000
              Re: C23 (C2x) changes Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2021-10-02 08:07 -0700
                Re: C23 (C2x) changes Branimir Maksimovic <branimir.maksimovic@icloud.com> - 2021-10-02 15:18 +0000
                Re: C23 (C2x) changes Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2021-10-02 15:04 -0700
                Re: C23 (C2x) changes Branimir Maksimovic <branimir.maksimovic@icloud.com> - 2021-10-03 01:58 +0000
                Re: C23 (C2x) changes Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2021-10-02 22:06 -0700
                Re: C23 (C2x) changes Branimir Maksimovic <branimir.maksimovic@icloud.com> - 2021-10-03 10:43 +0000
                Re: C23 (C2x) changes Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2021-10-03 13:30 -0700
                Re: C23 (C2x) changes Branimir Maksimovic <branimir.maksimovic@icloud.com> - 2021-10-04 05:04 +0000
                Re: C23 (C2x) changes Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2021-10-03 23:24 -0700
                Re: C23 (C2x) changes Branimir Maksimovic <branimir.maksimovic@icloud.com> - 2021-10-04 06:54 +0000
                Re: C23 (C2x) changes David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2021-10-04 09:58 +0200
                Re: C23 (C2x) changes Branimir Maksimovic <branimir.maksimovic@icloud.com> - 2021-10-04 15:52 +0000
                Re: C23 (C2x) changes Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2021-10-04 10:45 -0700
                Re: C23 (C2x) changes Branimir Maksimovic <branimir.maksimovic@icloud.com> - 2021-10-04 20:30 +0000
                Re: C23 (C2x) changes Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2021-10-06 03:57 -0700
                Re: C23 (C2x) changes Branimir Maksimovic <branimir.maksimovic@icloud.com> - 2021-10-06 12:27 +0000
          Re: C23 (C2x) changes Branimir Maksimovic <branimir.maksimovic@gmail.com> - 2021-09-29 03:38 +0000
      Re: C23 (C2x) changes Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2021-10-15 11:35 +0100
        Re: C23 (C2x) changes Lew Pitcher <lew.pitcher@digitalfreehold.ca> - 2021-10-15 18:27 +0000
          Re: C23 (C2x) changes Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2021-10-15 20:08 +0100
          Re: C23 (C2x) changes Lew Pitcher <lew.pitcher@digitalfreehold.ca> - 2021-10-15 19:20 +0000
            Re: C23 (C2x) changes Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2021-10-15 21:50 +0100
    Re: C23 (C2x) changes Florian Weimer <fw@deneb.enyo.de> - 2021-10-03 09:43 +0200
      Re: C23 (C2x) changes Guillaume <message@bottle.org> - 2021-10-03 18:53 +0200
      Re: C23 (C2x) changes Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2021-10-03 13:55 -0700
  Re: C23 (C2x) changes William Ahern <william@25thandClement.com> - 2021-09-21 22:57 -0700
    Re: C23 (C2x) changes Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2021-10-02 08:55 -0700
      Re: C23 (C2x) changes Branimir Maksimovic <branimir.maksimovic@icloud.com> - 2021-10-02 16:36 +0000
  Re: C23 (C2x) changes Guillaume <message@bottle.org> - 2021-09-22 20:27 +0200
    Re: C23 (C2x) changes Philipp Klaus Krause <pkk@spth.de> - 2021-09-22 22:25 +0200
      Re: C23 (C2x) changes Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2021-09-22 14:05 -0700
        Re: C23 (C2x) changes Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2021-09-22 23:24 +0100
          Re: C23 (C2x) changes Thiago Adams <thiago.adams@gmail.com> - 2021-09-22 18:49 -0700
        Re: C23 (C2x) changes Guillaume <message@bottle.org> - 2021-09-23 18:47 +0200
  Static bounds checking (was Re: C23 (C2x) changes) William Ahern <william@25thandClement.com> - 2021-09-23 21:11 -0700
    Re: Static bounds checking (was Re: C23 (C2x) changes) David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2021-09-24 08:51 +0200
      Re: Static bounds checking (was Re: C23 (C2x) changes) Philipp Klaus Krause <pkk@spth.de> - 2021-09-24 09:30 +0200
    Re: Static bounds checking (was Re: C23 (C2x) changes) Branimir Maksimovic <branimir.maksimovic@gmail.com> - 2021-09-24 07:52 +0000
      Re: Static bounds checking (was Re: C23 (C2x) changes) Philipp Klaus Krause <pkk@spth.de> - 2021-09-24 12:32 +0200
        Re: Static bounds checking (was Re: C23 (C2x) changes) Branimir Maksimovic <branimir.maksimovic@gmail.com> - 2021-09-24 10:49 +0000
          Re: Static bounds checking (was Re: C23 (C2x) changes) Philipp Klaus Krause <pkk@spth.de> - 2021-09-24 14:46 +0200
      Re: Static bounds checking (was Re: C23 (C2x) changes) Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2021-09-24 18:14 +0200
        Re: Static bounds checking (was Re: C23 (C2x) changes) Branimir Maksimovic <branimir.maksimovic@gmail.com> - 2021-09-25 01:00 +0000
          Re: Static bounds checking (was Re: C23 (C2x) changes) Philipp Klaus Krause <pkk@spth.de> - 2021-09-25 07:44 +0200
            Re: Static bounds checking (was Re: C23 (C2x) changes) Branimir Maksimovic <branimir.maksimovic@gmail.com> - 2021-09-25 11:28 +0000
            Re: Static bounds checking (was Re: C23 (C2x) changes) antispam@math.uni.wroc.pl - 2021-09-28 10:56 +0000
          Re: Static bounds checking (was Re: C23 (C2x) changes) Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2021-09-25 09:48 +0200
            Re: Static bounds checking (was Re: C23 (C2x) changes) Branimir Maksimovic <branimir.maksimovic@gmail.com> - 2021-09-25 11:30 +0000
              Re: Static bounds checking (was Re: C23 (C2x) changes) Kaz Kylheku <480-992-1380@kylheku.com> - 2021-09-25 20:49 +0000
                Re: Static bounds checking (was Re: C23 (C2x) changes) Branimir Maksimovic <branimir.maksimovic@gmail.com> - 2021-09-26 00:04 +0000
              Re: Static bounds checking (was Re: C23 (C2x) changes) Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2021-09-26 06:56 +0200
  Re: C23 (C2x) changes Thiago Adams <thiago.adams@gmail.com> - 2021-09-27 10:15 -0700
    Re: C23 (C2x) changes Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2021-09-27 11:15 -0700
      Re: C23 (C2x) changes David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2021-09-27 22:11 +0200
      Re: C23 (C2x) changes Thiago Adams <thiago.adams@gmail.com> - 2021-09-27 14:20 -0700
        Re: C23 (C2x) changes Thiago Adams <thiago.adams@gmail.com> - 2021-09-27 14:31 -0700
      Re: C23 (C2x) changes Mehdi Amini <atorrses@gmail.com> - 2021-09-28 10:43 +0330
  Re: C23 (C2x) changes Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2021-10-06 04:01 -0700
    Re: C23 (C2x) changes Thiago Adams <thiago.adams@gmail.com> - 2021-10-06 04:42 -0700
      Re: C23 (C2x) changes Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2021-10-29 04:04 -0700
        Re: C23 (C2x) changes David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2021-10-29 16:34 +0200
    Re: C23 (C2x) changes Guillaume <message@bottle.org> - 2021-10-06 19:07 +0200
      Re: C23 (C2x) changes David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2021-10-07 11:06 +0200
        Re: C23 (C2x) changes Guillaume <message@bottle.org> - 2021-10-07 19:31 +0200
          Re: C23 (C2x) changes David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2021-10-07 22:14 +0200
            Re: C23 (C2x) changes Thiago Adams <thiago.adams@gmail.com> - 2021-10-08 06:18 -0700
              Re: C23 (C2x) changes Thiago Adams <thiago.adams@gmail.com> - 2021-10-08 06:21 -0700
      Re: C23 (C2x) changes Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2021-10-29 04:01 -0700
    Re: C23 (C2x) changes Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2021-10-15 12:59 +0200
      Re: C23 (C2x) changes Jim Jackson <jj@franjam.org.uk> - 2021-10-15 16:50 +0000
        Re: C23 (C2x) changes Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2021-10-16 07:51 +0200
          Re: C23 (C2x) changes "Chris M. Thomasson" <chris.m.thomasson.1@gmail.com> - 2021-10-16 11:50 -0700
            Re: C23 (C2x) changes Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2021-10-16 21:28 +0200
              Re: C23 (C2x) changes Jim Jackson <jj@franjam.org.uk> - 2021-10-17 17:18 +0000
                Re: C23 (C2x) changes Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2021-10-17 20:00 +0200
                Re: C23 (C2x) changes Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2021-10-17 19:17 +0100
                Re: C23 (C2x) changes Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2021-10-18 06:49 +0200
                Re: C23 (C2x) changes Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2021-10-18 11:23 +0100
                Re: C23 (C2x) changes Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2021-10-18 14:09 +0200
                Re: C23 (C2x) changes Branimir Maksimovic <branimir.maksimovic@icloud.com> - 2021-10-21 01:07 +0000
                Re: C23 (C2x) changes Branimir Maksimovic <branimir.maksimovic@icloud.com> - 2021-10-21 01:02 +0000
          Re: C23 (C2x) changes Guillaume <message@bottle.org> - 2021-10-16 21:28 +0200
            Re: C23 (C2x) changes Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2021-10-17 06:04 +0200
              Re: C23 (C2x) changes Manfred <noname@add.invalid> - 2021-10-17 19:35 +0200
                Re: C23 (C2x) changes Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2021-10-17 20:01 +0200
                Re: C23 (C2x) changes "Chris M. Thomasson" <chris.m.thomasson.1@gmail.com> - 2021-10-17 14:15 -0700
              Re: C23 (C2x) changes Branimir Maksimovic <branimir.maksimovic@icloud.com> - 2021-10-21 01:02 +0000
                Re: C23 (C2x) changes Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2021-10-21 13:15 +0200

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