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Groups > comp.lang.c > #4634

Re: Types in C

From Ian Collins <ian-news@hotmail.com>
Newsgroups comp.lang.c
Subject Re: Types in C
Date 2011-05-24 12:03 +1200
Message-ID <940aukFt2pU18@mid.individual.net> (permalink)
References (6 earlier) <43d4ef5f7d2b0f9-0f635@gmail.com> <9401m9Ft2pU9@mid.individual.net> <50d915539d62563-19304@gmail.com> <9405q4Ft2pU12@mid.individual.net> <56d1adcc041e87f-81300@gmail.com>

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On 05/24/11 11:33 AM, Uncle Steve wrote:
> On Tue, May 24, 2011 at 10:35:48AM +1200, Ian Collins wrote:
>> On 05/24/11 09:53 AM, Uncle Steve wrote:
>>> 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.
>>
>> If they aren't defined buy programmers, who are they defined by?
>
> The compiler writers.  See my recent reply to Peter Seebach.

So if I write struct Point { int x,y; }; do I become a compiler writer?

The distinction you attempt to draw in the other reply is an artificial 
one that does not apply to C.

>>> Structures and unions are
>>> aggregates of basic types (and structures/unions).
>>
>> Well if you want to be pedantic, unions aren't aggregate types because
>> they can only contain one member at a time.
>>
>> Let's expand the above for completeness:
>>
>> A typedef may provide an alias to any existing type, built-in,
>> aggregate, union, composite or even incomplete.
>>
>> There, did I leave anything out?
>
> No, it seems very reasonable.

Good, that's a start.

>>> I believe
>>> incomplete types are a (usually temporary) artifact of the compilation
>>> process and you won't ever see them in a running program.
>>
>> Have you ever used void*?  What about a library with an opaque handle type?
>
> void * is a non-specific pointer, with special semantics contrasted to
> normal pointer types.  It is not "incomplete".

See 6.2.5 p19.

> Perhaps my internal
> representation of "incomplete type" is wrong.  I labor under the
> delusion that a structure defined with an element whose type is not
> known is incomplete:
>
> struct incomplete {
>     int        foo;
>     struct bar something;
> };

It is, the compiler interprets "struct bar something;" as a forward 
declaration of struct bar.

> until the compiler encounters a definition of "struct bar", struct
> incomplete is precisely that, and cannot be used to define anything.

Which is why we use a pointer member for incomplete types:

struct bar;

struct incomplete {
      int        foo;
      struct bar* something;
};

> This produces an error if there is no struct bar definition because
> the compiler cannot guess what code to generate.  Hence, it would
> never be encountered at run-time.  Please correct me if this is not
> the case.

It is, but a pointer to an incomplete may be used.

-- 
Ian Collins

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Thread

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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