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| From | Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> |
|---|---|
| Newsgroups | comp.lang.c |
| Subject | Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code |
| Date | 2011-11-02 14:06 -0700 |
| Organization | None to speak of |
| Message-ID | <ln1utqi694.fsf@nuthaus.mib.org> (permalink) |
| References | (1 earlier) <4EB05569.8090009@verizon.net> <1c44f3e8-d55a-40ea-b89d-9772b6cdf183@gy7g2000vbb.googlegroups.com> <lnhb2ni4v5.fsf@nuthaus.mib.org> <j8r5ph$5pg$3@news.xmission.com> <j8r85n$rvp$1@dont-email.me> |
"BartC" <bc@freeuk.com> writes:
[...]
> zemir is right. All these mis-declarations of 'main' are so widespread,
> wouldn't it have been easier to have accepted them into the standard, than
> have to be point them out every time? Especially as the compilers used don't
> seem to be complaining.
It would have been slightly easier for programmers (what's so
bloody hard about writing it correctly in the first place?),
slightly more difficult for most implementers, and potentially
substantially more difficult for some implementers. Consider a
system where functions returning void and functions returning int
use significantly different calling conventions. If compilers were
required to accept "void main(void)", they'd have to do some kind
of fixup to make it look like "int main(void)" to the linker.
My own preference would have been to make defining "main" incorrectly
a constraint violation, not undefined behavior. For example:
Permit "int main(void)", "int main()", or "int main(int
argc, char *argv[])", or equivalent (with "or equivalent"
being defined sufficiently clearly). In addition, permit any
implementation-defined form; if a compiler wants to support
"void main(void)", it can do so. A definition of "main" that
doesn't match either one of the three explicitly permitted
forms or a form defined by the implementation violates
a constraint, requiring a diagnostic. (N.B.: This is a
hypothetical suggestion, not a description of the language as
it's actually defined.)
(Aside: I've argued that "int main()" is not equivalent to "int
main(void)", which is why I list it separately.)
Programs using "void main(void)" (as well as books that claim it's
valid), would have been weeded out over the years as they failed
to compile.
If the committee had chosen to require "void main(void)" to be
accepted as well, it wouldn't particularly bother me. I've never
argued that there's anything *intrinsically* wrong with it, just
that the standard doesn't support it.
But the fact remains that the language is defined the way it is,
and conforming to that definition shouldn't be at all difficult.
Failing to do so can *sometimes* indicate a lack of attention to
detail that can and should reduce the reader's trust in the rest
of the code (Schildt's books are a classic example).
IMHO, the blame lies not with the authors of the Standard, but with
the authors of books and tutorials (most of whom had access to the
Standard and therefore should have known better) who decided, for
no apparent reason, to tell their readers that "void main(void)"
is perfectly valid.
>> (What about casting the return value of malloc()?)
>
> (That's also been mentioned so many times that I've no idea now whether you
> are supposed to cast or not. (And no I'm not interested in knowing; the way
> I do it seems to work so I don't care.))
If you don't care, why mention it? And since the vast majority of the
posts discussing it have been consistent, how can you be unaware of the
answer?
--
Keith Thompson (The_Other_Keith) kst-u@mib.org <http://www.ghoti.net/~kst>
"We must do something. This is something. Therefore, we must do this."
-- Antony Jay and Jonathan Lynn, "Yes Minister"
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I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code zemir <zemir_fp@libero.it> - 2011-11-01 08:27 -0700
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Mark Bluemel <mark_bluemel@pobox.com> - 2011-11-01 15:49 +0000
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code nroberts <roberts.noah@gmail.com> - 2011-11-01 08:52 -0700
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code jt@toerring.de (Jens Thoms Toerring) - 2011-11-01 16:22 +0000
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Malcolm McLean <malcolm.mclean5@btinternet.com> - 2011-11-01 09:31 -0700
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Ike Naar <ike@sverige.freeshell.org> - 2011-11-01 16:57 +0000
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code zemir <zemir_fp@libero.it> - 2011-11-01 11:51 -0700
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code James Kuyper <jameskuyper@verizon.net> - 2011-11-01 15:04 -0400
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2011-11-01 20:21 +0000
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code jacob navia <jacob@spamsink.net> - 2011-11-01 21:41 +0100
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Ian Collins <ian-news@hotmail.com> - 2011-11-02 08:06 +1300
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code zemir <zemir_fp@libero.it> - 2011-11-01 13:17 -0700
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code James Kuyper <jameskuyper@verizon.net> - 2011-11-01 16:24 -0400
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code zemir <zemir_fp@libero.it> - 2011-11-01 13:27 -0700
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2011-11-01 20:24 -0700
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code gazelle@shell.xmission.com (Kenny McCormack) - 2011-11-02 10:24 +0000
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code "BartC" <bc@freeuk.com> - 2011-11-02 11:04 +0000
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code James Kuyper <jameskuyper@verizon.net> - 2011-11-02 07:41 -0400
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Seebs <usenet-nospam@seebs.net> - 2011-11-02 18:00 +0000
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2011-11-02 14:06 -0700
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code John Bode <jfbode1029@gmail.com> - 2011-11-03 15:05 -0700
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Tim Rentsch <txr@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2012-01-24 22:55 -0800
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code jgk@panix.com (Joe keane) - 2012-01-26 15:59 +0000
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Fritz Wuehler <fritz@spamexpire-201201.rodent.frell.theremailer.net> - 2012-01-27 20:28 +0100
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Markus Wichmann <nullplan@gmx.net> - 2012-01-28 14:11 +0100
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Shao Miller <sha0.miller@gmail.com> - 2012-01-29 09:34 -0500
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Markus Wichmann <nullplan@gmx.net> - 2012-01-30 13:38 +0100
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Shao Miller <sha0.miller@gmail.com> - 2012-01-30 12:10 -0500
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Zoltan Kocsi <zoltan@bendor.com.au> - 2012-01-29 08:55 +1100
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Tim Rentsch <txr@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2012-01-31 21:48 -0800
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Tim Rentsch <txr@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2012-01-31 21:46 -0800
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2012-01-31 22:30 -0800
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Tim Rentsch <txr@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2012-03-08 10:11 -0800
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2012-03-08 13:51 -0800
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Tim Rentsch <txr@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2012-03-09 12:51 -0800
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2012-03-09 13:36 -0800
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code jacob navia <jacob@spamsink.net> - 2012-03-09 23:50 +0100
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Tim Rentsch <txr@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2012-03-09 15:01 -0800
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2012-03-09 16:21 -0800
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code gazelle@shell.xmission.com (Kenny McCormack) - 2012-03-10 00:57 +0000
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code jacob navia <jacob@spamsink.net> - 2012-03-10 13:37 +0100
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code gazelle@shell.xmission.com (Kenny McCormack) - 2012-03-10 13:58 +0000
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Tim Rentsch <txr@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2012-03-10 12:24 -0800
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2012-03-10 14:16 -0800
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Tim Rentsch <txr@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2012-03-11 12:50 -0700
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Philip Lantz <prl@canterey.us> - 2012-03-11 00:57 -0800
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2012-03-11 03:20 -0700
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Philip Lantz <prl@canterey.us> - 2012-03-12 02:10 -0700
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2012-03-12 10:49 -0700
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Philip Lantz <prl@canterey.us> - 2012-03-14 01:16 -0700
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Robert Miles <milesrf@Usenet-News.net> - 2012-04-15 06:53 -0500
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Nomen Nescio <nobody@dizum.com> - 2012-04-15 19:45 +0200
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Philip Lantz <prl@canterey.us> - 2012-04-15 15:06 -0700
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code 88888 Dihedral <dihedral88888@googlemail.com> - 2012-04-16 10:56 -0700
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Ian Collins <ian-news@hotmail.com> - 2011-11-03 10:19 +1300
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Seebs <usenet-nospam@seebs.net> - 2011-11-02 21:10 +0000
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Kaz Kylheku <kaz@kylheku.com> - 2011-11-03 05:13 +0000
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code zemir <zemir_fp@libero.it> - 2011-11-01 13:29 -0700
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Seebs <usenet-nospam@seebs.net> - 2011-11-01 21:44 +0000
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Bill Reid <hormelfree@gmail.com> - 2011-11-03 06:33 -0700
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Malcolm McLean <malcolm.mclean5@btinternet.com> - 2011-11-03 07:05 -0700
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Bill Reid <hormelfree@gmail.com> - 2011-11-03 15:32 -0700
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Nick Keighley <nick_keighley_nospam@hotmail.com> - 2011-11-04 01:44 -0700
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Bill Reid <hormelfree@gmail.com> - 2011-11-04 07:30 -0700
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code John Gordon <gordon@panix.com> - 2011-11-04 16:03 +0000
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Bill Reid <hormelfree@gmail.com> - 2011-11-04 09:20 -0700
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code John Gordon <gordon@panix.com> - 2011-11-04 16:45 +0000
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Bill Reid <hormelfree@gmail.com> - 2011-11-04 11:59 -0700
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code John Gordon <gordon@panix.com> - 2011-11-04 19:32 +0000
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Malcolm McLean <malcolm.mclean5@btinternet.com> - 2011-11-05 04:07 -0700
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code John Gordon <gordon@panix.com> - 2011-11-04 16:54 +0000
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Bill Reid <hormelfree@gmail.com> - 2011-11-04 11:58 -0700
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code "io_x" <a@b.c.invalid> - 2011-11-04 18:25 +0100
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code gordonb.e1fpi@burditt.org (Gordon Burditt) - 2011-11-04 13:50 -0500
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Pasquale Frega <zemir_fp@libero.it> - 2011-11-04 11:57 -0700
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2011-11-04 14:44 -0700
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code "osmium" <r124c4u102@comcast.net> - 2011-11-04 14:03 -0500
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Kaz Kylheku <kaz@kylheku.com> - 2011-11-04 21:37 +0000
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Phil Carmody <thefatphil_demunged@yahoo.co.uk> - 2011-11-06 12:20 +0200
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Malcolm McLean <malcolm.mclean5@btinternet.com> - 2011-11-04 08:32 -0700
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Bill Reid <hormelfree@gmail.com> - 2011-11-04 09:04 -0700
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Malcolm McLean <malcolm.mclean5@btinternet.com> - 2011-11-04 10:28 -0700
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Seebs <usenet-nospam@seebs.net> - 2011-11-03 18:35 +0000
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Pasquale Frega <zemir_fp@libero.it> - 2011-11-03 14:50 -0700
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2011-11-03 15:59 -0700
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Pasquale Frega <zemir_fp@libero.it> - 2011-11-04 12:00 -0700
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code "io_x" <a@b.c.invalid> - 2011-11-04 20:58 +0100
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code "io_x" <a@b.c.invalid> - 2011-11-04 21:13 +0100
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Nick Keighley <nick_keighley_nospam@hotmail.com> - 2011-11-04 01:56 -0700
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Pasquale Frega <zemir_fp@libero.it> - 2011-11-04 12:12 -0700
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Ian Collins <ian-news@hotmail.com> - 2011-11-05 10:09 +1300
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Bill Reid <hormelfree@gmail.com> - 2011-11-03 15:32 -0700
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Seebs <usenet-nospam@seebs.net> - 2011-11-03 22:53 +0000
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Bill Reid <hormelfree@gmail.com> - 2011-11-03 17:57 -0700
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Robert Wessel <robertwessel2@yahoo.com> - 2011-11-03 21:35 -0500
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Seebs <usenet-nospam@seebs.net> - 2011-11-04 03:31 +0000
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Nick Keighley <nick_keighley_nospam@hotmail.com> - 2011-11-04 02:25 -0700
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Kulin Remailer <remailer@reece.net.au> - 2011-11-03 22:47 +0000
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Bill Reid <hormelfree@gmail.com> - 2011-11-03 16:14 -0700
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Robert Wessel <robertwessel2@yahoo.com> - 2011-11-03 21:55 -0500
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Malcolm McLean <malcolm.mclean5@btinternet.com> - 2011-11-04 08:10 -0700
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code ImpalerCore <jadill33@gmail.com> - 2011-11-04 14:21 -0700
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Robert Wessel <robertwessel2@yahoo.com> - 2011-11-04 16:31 -0500
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Ian Collins <ian-news@hotmail.com> - 2011-11-05 10:41 +1300
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Seebs <usenet-nospam@seebs.net> - 2011-11-04 21:38 +0000
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Robert Wessel <robertwessel2@yahoo.com> - 2011-11-04 22:18 -0500
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Lew Pitcher <lpitcher@teksavvy.com> - 2011-11-05 11:11 -0400
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Lew Pitcher <lpitcher@teksavvy.com> - 2011-11-05 11:13 -0400
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Robert Wessel <robertwessel2@yahoo.com> - 2011-11-05 23:35 -0500
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Seebs <usenet-nospam@seebs.net> - 2011-11-06 07:40 +0000
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code James Kuyper <jameskuyper@verizon.net> - 2011-11-04 18:15 -0400
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code ImpalerCore <jadill33@gmail.com> - 2011-11-04 20:00 -0700
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code James Kuyper <jameskuyper@verizon.net> - 2011-11-04 23:19 -0400
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code ImpalerCore <jadill33@gmail.com> - 2011-11-04 20:33 -0700
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Kaz Kylheku <kaz@kylheku.com> - 2011-11-05 03:52 +0000
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Ian Collins <ian-news@hotmail.com> - 2011-11-05 17:01 +1300
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code ImpalerCore <jadill33@gmail.com> - 2011-11-04 21:48 -0700
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code zemir <zemir_fp@libero.it> - 2011-11-01 13:19 -0700
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Ian Collins <ian-news@hotmail.com> - 2011-11-02 09:26 +1300
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code zemir <zemir_fp@libero.it> - 2011-11-01 13:23 -0700
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Ian Collins <ian-news@hotmail.com> - 2011-11-02 09:27 +1300
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code zemir <zemir_fp@libero.it> - 2011-11-01 13:31 -0700
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code jt@toerring.de (Jens Thoms Toerring) - 2011-11-01 22:48 +0000
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Tim Rentsch <txr@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2012-01-24 23:09 -0800
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code gordonb.prbii@burditt.org (Gordon Burditt) - 2011-11-01 21:24 -0500
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Dann Corbit <dcorbit@connx.com> - 2011-11-02 21:03 -0700
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Ike Naar <ike@sverige.freeshell.org> - 2011-11-03 06:39 +0000
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Barry Schwarz <schwarzb@dqel.com> - 2011-11-03 18:33 -0700
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Nick Keighley <nick_keighley_nospam@hotmail.com> - 2011-11-04 03:03 -0700
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code "io_x" <a@b.c.invalid> - 2011-11-04 11:40 +0100
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2011-11-04 11:36 +0000
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Kaz Kylheku <kaz@kylheku.com> - 2011-11-04 15:58 +0000
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code "io_x" <a@b.c.invalid> - 2011-11-04 07:24 +0100
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code "io_x" <a@b.c.invalid> - 2011-11-04 10:28 +0100
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code "io_x" <a@b.c.invalid> - 2011-11-04 16:02 +0100
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code "io_x" <a@b.c.invalid> - 2011-11-04 16:20 +0100
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code "io_x" <a@b.c.invalid> - 2011-11-04 16:39 +0100
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code "io_x" <a@b.c.invalid> - 2011-11-06 18:07 +0100
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Barry Schwarz <schwarzb@dqel.com> - 2011-11-06 09:59 -0800
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code "io_x" <a@b.c.invalid> - 2011-11-06 19:23 +0100
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code James Kuyper <jameskuyper@verizon.net> - 2011-11-06 15:23 -0500
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code zemir <zemir_fp@libero.it> - 2011-11-01 11:52 -0700
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code "BartC" <bc@freeuk.com> - 2011-11-01 23:02 +0000
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Nick Keighley <nick_keighley_nospam@hotmail.com> - 2011-11-02 03:53 -0700
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code James Kuyper <jameskuyper@verizon.net> - 2011-11-02 08:03 -0400
Re: I am learning C: a little problem with a simple source code Nick Keighley <nick_keighley_nospam@hotmail.com> - 2011-11-02 06:11 -0700
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