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Groups > comp.lang.c > #402647 > unrolled thread

Taming The Switch-Statement

Started byLawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid>
First post2026-10-03 08:43 +0000
Last post2026-10-22 09:51 +0200
Articles 20 on this page of 473 — 24 participants

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Contents

  Taming The Switch-Statement Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-10-03 08:43 +0000
    Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-03 11:24 +0100
      Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Kaz Kylheku <046-301-5902@kylheku.com> - 2026-10-05 22:15 +0000
    Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-10-03 14:22 +0200
    Re: Taming The Switch-Statement David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-10-03 18:02 +0200
      Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Johann 'Myrkraverk' Oskarsson <johann@myrkraverk.invalid> - 2026-10-04 00:24 +0800
      Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-03 17:36 +0100
        Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2026-10-03 16:31 -0700
          Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-10-04 10:23 +0200
          Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-04 12:18 +0100
          Re: Taming The Switch-Statement David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-10-04 16:20 +0200
            Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Kaz Kylheku <046-301-5902@kylheku.com> - 2026-10-05 21:34 +0000
              Re: Taming The Switch-Statement "Chris M. Thomasson" <chris.m.thomasson.1@gmail.com> - 2026-10-06 16:04 -0700
        Re: Taming The Switch-Statement David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-10-04 16:18 +0200
          Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-04 16:09 +0100
            Re: Taming The Switch-Statement scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2026-10-04 16:59 +0000
              Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-04 18:30 +0100
                Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Richard Harnden <richard.nospam@gmail.invalid> - 2026-10-04 19:49 +0100
                  Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-04 20:35 +0100
                    Re: Taming The Switch-Statement David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-10-04 22:27 +0200
                      Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-04 22:47 +0100
                  Re: Taming The Switch-Statement scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2026-10-04 21:59 +0000
        Re: Taming The Switch-Statement antispam@fricas.org (Waldek Hebisch) - 2026-10-04 23:38 +0000
          Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-05 01:24 +0100
            Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Kaz Kylheku <046-301-5902@kylheku.com> - 2026-10-05 21:48 +0000
              Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-06 00:11 +0100
                Re: Taming The Switch-Statement David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-10-06 09:49 +0200
                  Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-10-06 11:12 +0200
                    Re: Taming The Switch-Statement David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-10-06 12:41 +0200
                      Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Richard Harnden <richard.nospam@gmail.invalid> - 2026-10-06 12:33 +0100
                        Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-06 15:16 +0100
                          Re: Taming The Switch-Statement scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2026-10-06 14:37 +0000
                            Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-06 17:27 +0100
                              Re: Taming The Switch-Statement antispam@fricas.org (Waldek Hebisch) - 2026-10-06 23:14 +0000
                                Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-07 01:25 +0100
                                  Re: Taming The Switch-Statement antispam@fricas.org (Waldek Hebisch) - 2026-10-07 04:19 +0000
                                    Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-10-07 06:28 +0000
                                      Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-07 11:39 +0100
                                        Re: Taming The Switch-Statement David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-10-07 12:57 +0200
                                    Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-07 11:32 +0100
                                      Re: Taming The Switch-Statement antispam@fricas.org (Waldek Hebisch) - 2026-10-07 15:10 +0000
                                        Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-07 19:41 +0100
                                          Re: Taming The Switch-Statement antispam@fricas.org (Waldek Hebisch) - 2026-10-08 04:49 +0000
                                            Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-08 12:24 +0100
                                  Re: Taming The Switch-Statement David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-10-07 09:07 +0200
                                    Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-07 11:49 +0100
                                      Re: Taming The Switch-Statement David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-10-07 13:11 +0200
                        Re: Taming The Switch-Statement David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-10-06 16:17 +0200
                          Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-06 15:32 +0100
                            Re: Taming The Switch-Statement David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-10-06 17:25 +0200
                          Re: Taming The Switch-Statement scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2026-10-06 14:39 +0000
                            Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-10-06 19:48 +0200
                              Re: Taming The Switch-Statement scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2026-10-06 18:12 +0000
                                [OT] substances (was Re: Taming The Switch-Statement) Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-10-06 21:50 +0200
                                Re: Taming The Switch-Statement "Chris M. Thomasson" <chris.m.thomasson.1@gmail.com> - 2026-10-06 17:06 -0700
                      Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-10-06 19:25 +0200
                        Re: Taming The Switch-Statement David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-10-07 10:28 +0200
                          Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-10-07 15:16 +0200
                            Re: Taming The Switch-Statement David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-10-07 16:40 +0200
                            Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2026-10-08 07:24 -0700
                      Re: Taming The Switch-Statement "Chris M. Thomasson" <chris.m.thomasson.1@gmail.com> - 2026-10-06 16:08 -0700
                        Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-10-06 23:45 +0000
                          Re: Taming The Switch-Statement "Chris M. Thomasson" <chris.m.thomasson.1@gmail.com> - 2026-10-06 17:08 -0700
                          Re: Taming The Switch-Statement David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-10-07 10:35 +0200
                  Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-06 12:33 +0100
                    Re: Taming The Switch-Statement David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-10-06 17:16 +0200
                    Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2026-10-06 16:41 -0700
                Re: Taming The Switch-Statement tTh <tth@none.invalid> - 2026-10-06 12:14 +0200
                  Re: Taming The Switch-Statement David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-10-06 12:43 +0200
                Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Jim Jackson <jj@franjam.org.uk> - 2026-10-06 11:47 +0000
                Re: Taming The Switch-Statement "Chris M. Thomasson" <chris.m.thomasson.1@gmail.com> - 2026-10-06 16:05 -0700
                Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Kaz Kylheku <046-301-5902@kylheku.com> - 2026-10-07 00:42 +0000
                  Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-07 13:52 +0100
                    Re: Taming The Switch-Statement "Chris M. Thomasson" <chris.m.thomasson.1@gmail.com> - 2026-10-07 14:06 -0700
                      Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-07 23:31 +0100
        Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Kaz Kylheku <046-301-5902@kylheku.com> - 2026-10-05 21:32 +0000
          Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Johann 'Myrkraverk' Oskarsson <johann@myrkraverk.invalid> - 2026-10-06 06:07 +0800
          Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2026-10-05 16:42 -0700
            Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2026-10-05 18:05 -0700
              Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-10-06 09:04 +0200
                Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2026-10-06 04:11 -0700
                  Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-10-06 21:40 +0200
                  Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2026-10-16 13:12 -0700
              Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Andrey Tarasevich <noone@noone.net> - 2026-10-06 00:59 -0700
                Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-10-06 08:16 +0000
                  Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2026-10-06 04:21 -0700
              Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2026-10-16 04:46 -0700
            Re: Taming The Switch-Statement scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2026-10-06 14:43 +0000
              Re: Taming The Switch-Statement David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-10-06 17:36 +0200
        Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Andrey Tarasevich <noone@noone.net> - 2026-10-06 20:36 -0700
    Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Johann 'Myrkraverk' Oskarsson <johann@myrkraverk.invalid> - 2026-10-04 00:20 +0800
    Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Andrey Tarasevich <noone@noone.net> - 2026-10-04 09:05 -0700
      Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-10-04 23:44 +0000
        Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-05 01:46 +0100
          Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Andrey Tarasevich <noone@noone.net> - 2026-10-04 20:48 -0700
            Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-10-05 06:24 +0200
          Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-05 11:09 +0100
          Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Johann 'Myrkraverk' Oskarsson <johann@myrkraverk.invalid> - 2026-10-06 05:22 +0800
            Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Johann 'Myrkraverk' Oskarsson <johann@myrkraverk.invalid> - 2026-10-06 05:26 +0800
    Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-10-10 00:25 +0000
      Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-10 01:58 +0100
        Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2026-10-09 19:17 -0700
          Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-10 11:53 +0100
            Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-10-10 14:01 +0200
              Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-10 14:11 +0100
                Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Johann 'Myrkraverk' Oskarsson <johann@myrkraverk.invalid> - 2026-10-10 21:34 +0800
                  Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Johann 'Myrkraverk' Oskarsson <johann@myrkraverk.invalid> - 2026-10-10 21:58 +0800
                Re: Taming The Switch-Statement David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-10-10 17:50 +0200
                  Re: Taming The Switch-Statement antispam@fricas.org (Waldek Hebisch) - 2026-10-11 05:52 +0000
                    Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-10-11 21:16 +0000
                      Re: Taming The Switch-Statement antispam@fricas.org (Waldek Hebisch) - 2026-10-11 23:38 +0000
                  Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-11 11:58 +0100
                    Re: Taming The Switch-Statement David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-10-11 14:42 +0200
                      Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-11 14:39 +0100
                        Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2026-10-11 15:35 -0700
                    Re: Taming The Switch-Statement antispam@fricas.org (Waldek Hebisch) - 2026-10-11 14:42 +0000
                      Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-11 17:23 +0100
                        Re: Taming The Switch-Statement antispam@fricas.org (Waldek Hebisch) - 2026-10-11 17:48 +0000
                          Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-11 19:10 +0100
                            Re: Taming The Switch-Statement antispam@fricas.org (Waldek Hebisch) - 2026-10-12 07:01 +0000
                    Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-11 16:41 +0100
                Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-10-10 20:08 +0200
                  Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2026-10-10 22:02 +0300
                    Re: Taming The Switch-Statement cross@spitfire.i.gajendra.net (Dan Cross) - 2026-10-10 19:03 +0000
                      Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2026-10-10 22:29 +0300
                    Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-10-10 21:55 +0200
                      Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2026-10-10 23:03 +0300
                        Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-10-10 22:33 +0200
                          Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-10 21:53 +0100
                            Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-10-10 23:16 +0200
                            Re: Taming The Switch-Statement scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2026-10-11 15:29 +0000
                          Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Andrey Tarasevich <noone@noone.net> - 2026-10-10 15:30 -0700
                            Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-10-10 22:58 +0000
                              Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Johann 'Myrkraverk' Oskarsson <johann@myrkraverk.invalid> - 2026-10-11 09:09 +0800
                                Re: Taming The Switch-Statement ram@zedat.fu-berlin.de (Stefan Ram) - 2026-10-11 10:14 +0000
                                  Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-10-11 21:12 +0000
                            Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-10-11 03:58 +0200
                          Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2026-10-10 15:32 -0700
                            Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2026-10-11 01:58 +0300
                              Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-11 01:43 +0100
                            Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Johann 'Myrkraverk' Oskarsson <johann@myrkraverk.invalid> - 2026-10-11 09:12 +0800
                            Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-10-11 04:07 +0200
                              Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2026-10-10 20:13 -0700
                                Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-10-11 10:36 +0200
                                Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2026-10-16 14:22 -0700
                                  Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2026-10-16 15:00 -0700
                                    Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-10-17 01:29 +0200
                                      Re: Taming The Switch-Statement David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-10-18 12:48 +0200
                                        Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-18 12:04 +0100
                                          Re: Taming The Switch-Statement David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-10-18 14:09 +0200
                                            Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-10-18 14:34 +0200
                                              Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2026-10-18 17:13 +0300
                                                Re: Taming The Switch-Statement David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-10-18 16:52 +0200
                                                  Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2026-10-18 18:16 +0300
                                                    Re: Taming The Switch-Statement David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-10-18 20:47 +0200
                                                      Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2026-10-18 22:38 +0300
                                                        Re: Taming The Switch-Statement David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-10-19 11:16 +0200
                                                          Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2026-10-19 03:50 -0700
                                                            Re: Taming The Switch-Statement David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-10-19 12:59 +0200
                                                              Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2026-10-19 15:28 -0700
                                                                Re: Taming The Switch-Statement David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-10-20 09:05 +0200
                                                            Re: Taming The Switch-Statement cross@spitfire.i.gajendra.net (Dan Cross) - 2026-10-19 14:35 +0000
                                                              Re: Taming The Switch-Statement David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-10-19 18:31 +0200
                                                            Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Bob Duff <invalid@invalid.com> - 2026-10-19 19:38 -0400
                                                              Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2026-10-19 17:03 -0700
                                                              Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-10-20 02:45 +0000
                                                                Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-10-20 05:01 +0200
                                                                  Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2026-10-20 00:45 -0700
                                                    Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2026-10-18 18:34 -0700
                                                Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-10-18 17:49 +0200
                                                  Re: Taming The Switch-Statement cross@spitfire.i.gajendra.net (Dan Cross) - 2026-10-18 22:18 +0000
                                                    Re: Taming The Switch-Statement antispam@fricas.org (Waldek Hebisch) - 2026-10-18 23:51 +0000
                                                      Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-10-19 01:56 +0000
                                                        Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2026-10-18 19:37 -0700
                                                    Re: Taming The Switch-Statement cross@spitfire.i.gajendra.net (Dan Cross) - 2026-10-18 23:56 +0000
                                                    Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-10-19 16:15 +0200
                                                Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2026-10-18 18:33 -0700
                                        Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-10-18 13:39 +0200
                                          Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2026-10-19 08:47 -0700
                                            Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-10-19 18:28 +0200
                                            Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2026-10-19 16:11 -0700
                                            Re: Taming The Switch-Statement cross@spitfire.i.gajendra.net (Dan Cross) - 2026-10-20 01:02 +0000
                                            Re: Taming The Switch-Statement David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-10-20 09:18 +0200
                                        Re: Taming The Switch-Statement cross@spitfire.i.gajendra.net (Dan Cross) - 2026-10-18 22:33 +0000
                                          Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2026-10-20 02:53 -0700
                                            Re: Taming The Switch-Statement cross@spitfire.i.gajendra.net (Dan Cross) - 2026-10-20 12:22 +0000
                                    Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2026-10-17 19:39 +0300
                                      Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-17 18:23 +0100
                                        Re: Taming The Switch-Statement cross@spitfire.i.gajendra.net (Dan Cross) - 2026-10-17 17:36 +0000
                                        Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2026-10-17 21:03 +0300
                                    Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2026-10-17 10:30 -0700
                                      Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2026-10-17 10:54 -0700
                                    Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Kaz Kylheku <046-301-5902@kylheku.com> - 2026-10-19 23:41 +0000
                                  Re: Taming The Switch-Statement David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-10-18 14:18 +0200
                        Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2026-10-11 04:26 -0700
                          Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-11 13:35 +0100
                            Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2026-10-11 06:13 -0700
                              Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-11 14:51 +0100
                            Re: Taming The Switch-Statement David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-10-11 15:33 +0200
                              Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Andrey Tarasevich <noone@noone.net> - 2026-10-11 09:01 -0700
                                Re: Taming The Switch-Statement David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-10-11 19:17 +0200
                                  Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-11 18:57 +0100
                                    Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2026-10-11 14:28 -0700
                                      Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-11 23:02 +0100
                                        Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2026-10-11 16:29 -0700
                                      Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2026-10-12 04:03 -0700
                                      Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2026-10-12 22:02 +0300
                                        Re: Taming The Switch-Statement David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-10-12 21:09 +0200
                                          Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2026-10-12 22:31 +0300
                                            Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-10-12 22:32 +0200
                                              Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-12 22:05 +0100
                                            Re: Taming The Switch-Statement David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-10-12 23:14 +0200
                                            Re: Taming The Switch-Statement antispam@fricas.org (Waldek Hebisch) - 2026-10-13 07:23 +0000
                                              Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-10-13 12:12 +0200
                                                Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-13 11:26 +0100
                                                  Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Richard Harnden <richard.nospam@gmail.invalid> - 2026-10-13 12:10 +0100
                                                    Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2026-10-13 06:55 -0700
                                                  Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-10-13 13:33 +0200
                                                    Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-13 13:41 +0100
                                                      Re: Taming The Switch-Statement cross@spitfire.i.gajendra.net (Dan Cross) - 2026-10-13 14:38 +0000
                                                        Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-10-13 18:04 +0200
                                                          Re: Taming The Switch-Statement cross@spitfire.i.gajendra.net (Dan Cross) - 2026-10-13 20:52 +0000
                                                            Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-13 22:24 +0100
                                                            Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-10-14 00:03 +0200
                                                              Re: Taming The Switch-Statement cross@spitfire.i.gajendra.net (Dan Cross) - 2026-10-14 10:53 +0000
                                                                Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-10-14 17:54 +0200
                                                                  Re: Taming The Switch-Statement cross@spitfire.i.gajendra.net (Dan Cross) - 2026-10-14 19:48 +0000
                                              Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-13 11:16 +0100
                                              Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-10-13 21:54 +0000
                                                Re: Taming The Switch-Statement antispam@fricas.org (Waldek Hebisch) - 2026-10-16 15:24 +0000
                                                  Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-10-16 21:42 +0000
                                                    Re: Taming The Switch-Statement scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2026-10-16 21:46 +0000
                                                      Re: Taming The Switch-Statement David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-10-18 12:38 +0200
                                                    Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2026-10-16 15:03 -0700
                                                  Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2026-10-17 19:25 -0700
                                                    Re: Taming The Switch-Statement antispam@fricas.org (Waldek Hebisch) - 2026-10-20 00:16 +0000
                                                      Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2026-10-20 16:10 -0700
                                            Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2026-10-13 07:40 -0700
                                              Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-13 16:46 +0100
                                                Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2026-10-13 09:10 -0700
                                                  Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-13 18:15 +0100
                                                Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2026-10-13 18:27 -0700
                                                  Re: Taming The Switch-Statement gazelle@shell.xmission.com (Kenny McCormack) - 2026-10-14 01:50 +0000
                                                    Re: Taming The Switch-Statement cross@spitfire.i.gajendra.net (Dan Cross) - 2026-10-14 10:58 +0000
                                              Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2026-10-13 22:54 +0300
                                                Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2026-10-13 16:45 -0700
                                                Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2026-10-13 18:34 -0700
                                                Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Kaz Kylheku <046-301-5902@kylheku.com> - 2026-10-14 05:17 +0000
                                                  Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-14 13:46 +0100
                                    Re: Taming The Switch-Statement David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-10-12 07:05 +0200
                                      Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-12 14:37 +0100
                                        Re: Taming The Switch-Statement David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-10-12 16:12 +0200
                                          Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-12 16:32 +0100
                                            Re: Taming The Switch-Statement David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-10-12 19:05 +0200
                                              Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-12 19:15 +0100
                                                Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2026-10-12 16:43 -0700
                                                Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2026-10-12 16:45 -0700
                                                  Re: Taming The Switch-Statement cross@spitfire.i.gajendra.net (Dan Cross) - 2026-10-12 23:46 +0000
                                                  Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-13 00:56 +0100
                                        Re: Taming The Switch-Statement cross@spitfire.i.gajendra.net (Dan Cross) - 2026-10-12 17:58 +0000
                                          Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-12 20:38 +0100
                                            Re: Taming The Switch-Statement scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2026-10-12 19:52 +0000
                                              Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-10-12 22:56 +0200
                                              Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-12 21:57 +0100
                                                Re: Taming The Switch-Statement scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2026-10-12 21:21 +0000
                                                  Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-12 22:46 +0100
                                                    Re: Taming The Switch-Statement David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-10-13 09:27 +0200
                                                      Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-10-13 12:18 +0200
                                                      Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-13 11:33 +0100
                                                Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2026-10-13 00:25 +0300
                                            Re: Taming The Switch-Statement cross@spitfire.i.gajendra.net (Dan Cross) - 2026-10-12 22:20 +0000
                                            Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2026-10-12 17:02 -0700
                                              Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-13 01:53 +0100
                                              Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-10-13 03:54 +0200
                                              Re: Taming The Switch-Statement cross@spitfire.i.gajendra.net (Dan Cross) - 2026-10-13 10:52 +0000
                                                Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2026-10-13 23:16 +0300
                                                Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2026-10-13 18:44 -0700
                                            Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2026-10-12 17:33 -0700
                                              Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-14 00:21 +0100
                                                Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2026-10-13 20:40 -0700
                                                Re: Taming The Switch-Statement cross@spitfire.i.gajendra.net (Dan Cross) - 2026-10-14 03:59 +0000
                                                  Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2026-10-13 21:35 -0700
                                                    Re: Taming The Switch-Statement cross@spitfire.i.gajendra.net (Dan Cross) - 2026-10-14 11:27 +0000
                                                  Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-14 12:17 +0100
                                                    Re: Taming The Switch-Statement cross@spitfire.i.gajendra.net (Dan Cross) - 2026-10-14 12:38 +0000
                                                      Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-14 16:49 +0100
                                                        Re: Taming The Switch-Statement cross@spitfire.i.gajendra.net (Dan Cross) - 2026-10-14 19:30 +0000
                                                          Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2026-10-14 23:28 +0300
                                                            Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2026-10-14 21:30 -0700
                                                          Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-14 21:56 +0100
                                                            Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-14 21:59 +0100
                                                            Re: Taming The Switch-Statement cross@spitfire.i.gajendra.net (Dan Cross) - 2026-10-15 01:26 +0000
                                                              Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-15 12:01 +0100
                                                                Re: Taming The Switch-Statement cross@spitfire.i.gajendra.net (Dan Cross) - 2026-10-15 11:45 +0000
                                                                  Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-15 15:57 +0100
                                                                    Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-15 18:10 +0100
                                                                      Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-16 02:42 +0100
                                                                    Re: Taming The Switch-Statement cross@spitfire.i.gajendra.net (Dan Cross) - 2026-10-15 20:42 +0000
                                                                      Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2026-10-15 23:57 +0300
                                                                      Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-15 23:22 +0100
                                                                        Re: Taming The Switch-Statement cross@spitfire.i.gajendra.net (Dan Cross) - 2026-10-16 12:40 +0000
                                                                          Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-17 00:01 +0100
                                                                            Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2026-10-16 16:53 -0700
                                                                              Re: Taming The Switch-Statement gazelle@shell.xmission.com (Kenny McCormack) - 2026-10-17 11:09 +0000
                                                                                Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-17 13:11 +0100
                                                                                Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-10-17 15:15 +0200
                                                                              Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2026-10-17 08:34 -0700
                                                                            Re: Taming The Switch-Statement cross@spitfire.i.gajendra.net (Dan Cross) - 2026-10-17 03:19 +0000
                                                                              Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-17 12:34 +0100
                                                                                Re: Taming The Switch-Statement cross@spitfire.i.gajendra.net (Dan Cross) - 2026-10-17 17:58 +0000
                                                                                  Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-17 21:40 +0100
                                                                                    Re: Taming The Switch-Statement David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-10-18 14:32 +0200
                                                                                    Re: Taming The Switch-Statement cross@spitfire.i.gajendra.net (Dan Cross) - 2026-10-19 01:19 +0000
                                                                                      Re: Taming The Switch-Statement antispam@fricas.org (Waldek Hebisch) - 2026-10-19 09:18 +0000
                                                                                        Re: Taming The Switch-Statement cross@spitfire.i.gajendra.net (Dan Cross) - 2026-10-19 12:00 +0000
                                                                                      Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-19 12:47 +0100
                                                                                        Re: Taming The Switch-Statement David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-10-19 14:08 +0200
                                                                                        Re: Taming The Switch-Statement cross@spitfire.i.gajendra.net (Dan Cross) - 2026-10-19 17:22 +0000
                                                                                          Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-19 20:34 +0100
                                                                                          Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-10-20 00:35 +0200
                                                                                            Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-20 00:04 +0100
                                                                                        Re: Taming The Switch-Statement antispam@fricas.org (Waldek Hebisch) - 2026-10-20 01:03 +0000
                                                                                          Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-10-20 02:44 +0000
                                                                                          Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-20 15:11 +0100
                                                                                            Re: Taming The Switch-Statement David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-10-20 17:02 +0200
                                                                                              Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-20 21:07 +0100
                                                                                                Re: Taming The Switch-Statement David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-10-21 11:20 +0200
                                                                                                  Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-21 12:29 +0100
                                                                                                    Re: Taming The Switch-Statement David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-10-21 16:40 +0200
                                                                                            Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2026-10-20 23:33 +0300
                                                                                              Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-21 00:01 +0100
                                                                                Re: Taming The Switch-Statement David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-10-18 13:22 +0200
                                                                                  Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-10-18 14:12 +0200
                                                                                  Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-18 14:33 +0100
                                                                                    Re: Taming The Switch-Statement David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-10-18 16:27 +0200
                                                                                      Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-18 17:09 +0100
                                                                                        Re: Taming The Switch-Statement David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-10-18 21:09 +0200
                                                                                          Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-18 23:20 +0100
                                                                                            Re: Taming The Switch-Statement David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-10-19 12:26 +0200
                                                                                          Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-10-19 15:16 +0200
                                                                                            Re: Taming The Switch-Statement David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-10-19 15:46 +0200
                                                                                              Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-10-19 16:03 +0200
                                                                                              Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-19 22:28 +0100
                                                                                                Re: Taming The Switch-Statement David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-10-20 10:01 +0200
                                                                                                  Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-20 12:41 +0100
                                                                                                    Re: Taming The Switch-Statement David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-10-20 14:58 +0200
                                                                                                      Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2026-10-20 17:05 -0700
                                                                                                        Re: Taming The Switch-Statement David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-10-21 12:45 +0200
                                                                                                      Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-21 02:04 +0100
                                                                                                        Re: Taming The Switch-Statement David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-10-21 13:21 +0200
                                                                                                          Re: Taming The Switch-Statement cross@spitfire.i.gajendra.net (Dan Cross) - 2026-10-21 11:26 +0000
                                                                                                          Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-21 12:33 +0100
                                                                                                            Re: Taming The Switch-Statement David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-10-21 14:21 +0200
                                                                                                          Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-21 15:41 +0100
                                                                                                            Re: Taming The Switch-Statement David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-10-21 17:36 +0200
                                                                                                            Re: Taming The Switch-Statement cross@spitfire.i.gajendra.net (Dan Cross) - 2026-10-21 15:37 +0000
                                                                                                              Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-21 17:22 +0100
                                                                                                                Re: Taming The Switch-Statement scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2026-10-21 17:21 +0000
                                                                                                                  Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-21 19:04 +0100
                                                                                                                    Re: Taming The Switch-Statement cross@spitfire.i.gajendra.net (Dan Cross) - 2026-10-21 18:38 +0000
                                                                                                                      Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-21 20:36 +0100
                                                                                                                        Re: Taming The Switch-Statement cross@spitfire.i.gajendra.net (Dan Cross) - 2026-10-21 20:36 +0000
                                                                                                                          Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-21 23:10 +0100
                                                                                                                            Re: Taming The Switch-Statement cross@spitfire.i.gajendra.net (Dan Cross) - 2026-10-21 22:55 +0000
                                                                                                                    Re: Taming The Switch-Statement scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2026-10-21 19:17 +0000
                                                                                                                      Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-21 20:49 +0100
                                                                                                                Re: Taming The Switch-Statement cross@spitfire.i.gajendra.net (Dan Cross) - 2026-10-21 18:56 +0000
                                                                                                    Re: Taming The Switch-Statement cross@spitfire.i.gajendra.net (Dan Cross) - 2026-10-20 19:24 +0000
                                                                                                      Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-20 21:30 +0100
                                                                                                        Re: Taming The Switch-Statement cross@spitfire.i.gajendra.net (Dan Cross) - 2026-10-20 21:44 +0000
                                                                                                          Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-20 23:43 +0100
                                                                                                            Re: Taming The Switch-Statement cross@spitfire.i.gajendra.net (Dan Cross) - 2026-10-21 00:56 +0000
                                                                                                              Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-21 02:39 +0100
                                                                                                                Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2026-10-20 18:55 -0700
                                                                                                                  Re: Taming The Switch-Statement gazelle@shell.xmission.com (Kenny McCormack) - 2026-10-21 07:22 +0000
                                                                                                                Re: Taming The Switch-Statement cross@spitfire.i.gajendra.net (Dan Cross) - 2026-10-21 01:56 +0000
                                                                                                            Re: Taming The Switch-Statement David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-10-21 15:10 +0200
                                                                                                      Re: Taming The Switch-Statement David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-10-21 14:17 +0200
                                                                                                        Re: Taming The Switch-Statement cross@spitfire.i.gajendra.net (Dan Cross) - 2026-10-21 13:22 +0000
                                                                                                          Re: Taming The Switch-Statement David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-10-21 17:29 +0200
                                                                                                            Re: Taming The Switch-Statement cross@spitfire.i.gajendra.net (Dan Cross) - 2026-10-21 18:43 +0000
                                                                                                        Re: Taming The Switch-Statement "Chris M. Thomasson" <chris.m.thomasson.1@gmail.com> - 2026-10-21 13:02 -0700
                                                                                                          Re: Taming The Switch-Statement David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-10-22 08:57 +0200
                                                                                            Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2026-10-19 15:48 -0700
                                                                                              Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-10-20 01:18 +0200
                                                                                        Re: Taming The Switch-Statement antispam@fricas.org (Waldek Hebisch) - 2026-10-19 08:46 +0000
                                                                                          Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-19 15:00 +0100
                                                                                            Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Richard Harnden <richard.nospam@gmail.invalid> - 2026-10-19 16:55 +0100
                                                                                          Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-10-20 02:40 +0000
                                                                                  Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2026-10-18 17:24 +0300
                                                                                    Re: Taming The Switch-Statement David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-10-18 16:58 +0200
                                                                                      Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2026-10-18 18:26 +0300
                                                                                        Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-10-18 18:11 +0200
                                                                                          Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2026-10-18 19:32 +0300
                                                                                            Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-10-19 15:44 +0200
                                                                                              Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2026-10-19 22:35 +0300
                                                                                                Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-10-19 23:27 +0200
                                                                                                  Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-10-19 23:29 +0200
                                                                                                  Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2026-10-20 00:57 +0300
                                                                                                    Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-10-20 00:55 +0200
                                                                                                  Re: Taming The Switch-Statement David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-10-20 10:25 +0200
                                                                                                    Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-10-20 16:56 +0200
                                                                                                      Re: Taming The Switch-Statement David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-10-20 17:32 +0200
                                                                                                    Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2026-10-20 18:23 -0700
                                                                                                      Re: Taming The Switch-Statement David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-10-21 15:28 +0200
                                                                                        Re: Taming The Switch-Statement David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-10-18 21:11 +0200
                                                                                    Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-18 18:34 +0100
                                                              Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2026-10-15 05:17 -0700
                                                                Re: Taming The Switch-Statement cross@spitfire.i.gajendra.net (Dan Cross) - 2026-10-15 14:37 +0000
                                                                  Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-10-15 20:50 +0200
                                                                Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-15 19:59 +0100
                                                                  Re: Taming The Switch-Statement cross@spitfire.i.gajendra.net (Dan Cross) - 2026-10-15 20:49 +0000
                                                      Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-14 18:51 +0100
                                                        Re: Taming The Switch-Statement "Peyton" <peyton@solacium.com> - 2026-10-14 11:04 -0700
                                                        Re: Taming The Switch-Statement cross@spitfire.i.gajendra.net (Dan Cross) - 2026-10-14 19:47 +0000
                                                        Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2026-10-14 13:58 -0700
                                                          Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-10-15 12:08 +0200
                                                    Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2026-10-14 14:23 -0700
                                                Re: Taming The Switch-Statement scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2026-10-14 14:35 +0000
                                Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2026-10-16 03:36 -0700
                    Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2026-10-10 16:38 -0700
                  Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-10 21:09 +0100
                    Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-10-10 23:14 +0200
                      Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-10 23:01 +0100
                      Re: Taming The Switch-Statement antispam@fricas.org (Waldek Hebisch) - 2026-10-11 08:00 +0000
                        Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-10-11 10:27 +0200
                          Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-10-11 10:49 +0200
            Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2026-10-10 16:30 -0700
              Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-11 02:12 +0100
                Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2026-10-10 19:55 -0700
                  Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-10-11 11:00 +0200
                  Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-11 12:21 +0100
                    Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2026-10-11 14:04 -0700
                      Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-11 23:05 +0100
                        Re: Taming The Switch-Statement David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-10-12 07:22 +0200
                          Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-12 11:42 +0100
                            Re: Taming The Switch-Statement David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-10-12 16:15 +0200
                            Re: Taming The Switch-Statement scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2026-10-12 14:34 +0000
                              Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-12 16:47 +0100
                                Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Johann 'Myrkraverk' Oskarsson <johann@myrkraverk.invalid> - 2026-10-13 00:15 +0800
                                  Re: Taming The Switch-Statement ram@zedat.fu-berlin.de (Stefan Ram) - 2026-10-12 17:02 +0000
                                    Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Johann 'Myrkraverk' Oskarsson <johann@myrkraverk.invalid> - 2026-10-13 20:04 +0800
                                      Re: Taming The Switch-Statement ram@zedat.fu-berlin.de (Stefan Ram) - 2026-10-13 17:28 +0000
                                        Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Johann 'Myrkraverk' Oskarsson <johann@myrkraverk.invalid> - 2026-10-14 02:05 +0800
                                Re: Taming The Switch-Statement scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2026-10-12 17:17 +0000
                                Re: Taming The Switch-Statement cross@spitfire.i.gajendra.net (Dan Cross) - 2026-10-12 17:37 +0000
                            Re: Taming The Switch-Statement cross@spitfire.i.gajendra.net (Dan Cross) - 2026-10-12 17:34 +0000
                              Re: Taming The Switch-Statement scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2026-10-12 18:46 +0000
                                Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-12 19:52 +0100
                                  Re: Taming The Switch-Statement scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2026-10-12 19:42 +0000
                                  Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2026-10-12 16:29 -0700
                                    Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-13 00:53 +0100
                                      Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2026-10-12 18:14 -0700
                                Re: Taming The Switch-Statement cross@spitfire.i.gajendra.net (Dan Cross) - 2026-10-12 22:35 +0000
                            Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2026-10-12 16:14 -0700
                Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-11 22:36 +0100
          Re: Taming The Switch-Statement gazelle@shell.xmission.com (Kenny McCormack) - 2026-10-10 13:14 +0000
          Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2026-10-10 19:50 +0300
            Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-10-10 20:13 +0200
              Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2026-10-10 15:54 -0700
                Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-10-11 03:41 +0200
                  Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Johann 'Myrkraverk' Oskarsson <johann@myrkraverk.invalid> - 2026-10-11 09:51 +0800
                  Re: Taming The Switch-Statement David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-10-11 11:41 +0200
            Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2026-10-10 16:44 -0700
          Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2026-10-10 16:56 -0700
      Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-10-11 21:26 +0000
        Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Jon Ribbens <jon+usenet@unequivocal.eu> - 2026-10-11 22:12 +0000
      Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-10-13 22:00 +0000
        Re: Taming The Switch-Statement bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-13 23:19 +0100
    Re: Taming The Switch-Statement fir <profesor.fir@gmail.com> - 2026-10-21 11:19 +0200
      Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Blaine <cactus_DAC@yahoo.com> - 2026-10-21 09:29 -0600
        Re: Taming The Switch-Statement Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-10-22 00:33 +0000
        Re: Taming The Switch-Statement fir <profesor.fir@gmail.com> - 2026-10-22 09:51 +0200

Page 18 of 24 — ← Prev page 1 … 16 17 [18] 19 20 … 24  Next page →


#403319

FromDavid Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no>
Date2026-10-19 15:46 +0200
Message-ID<11b56uo$1q18k$5@dont-email.me>
In reply to#403317
On 19/10/2026 15:16, Janis Papanagnou wrote:
> On 2026-10-18 21:09, David Brown wrote:
>> On 18/10/2026 18:09, bart wrote:
>>> [...]
> [ declaration syntax ]
> 
> (I just want to comment on a [not unimportant] detail...)
> 
>>
>> You need to give things in the right order, or use parentheses, to get 
>> the right "type expression".  It's just like any other kind of 
>> expression.
>>
>> The intention of the declaration syntax in C is that the declaration 
>> order follows usage.  [...]
> 
> I think the first part is downplaying that languages typically indeed
> make a distinction between parenthesized expressions and declarations.
> Quite some other languages [not from the C-heritage] that I used all
> did not need to introduce "expression"-grouping for _declarations_ in
> the first place given their more consistent ways to declare entities.
> 
> The second part is, as I had understood C's history, the idea behind
> how it got defined; needless to say that I think that was a bad idea.
> But that's what we've got! If they had dropped that requirement/idea
> the declaration syntax could have become "better" (more consistent,
> less cryptic, less convoluted, clearer). Now, after half a century,
> we just have to live with that, and folks who have "problems" with it
> should better not touch this language (or maybe not doing programming
> at all). The somewhat tragic aspect is that the "declaration follows
> use" idea was (IIRC) intended to _simplify_ the understanding of its
> concepts and use of the language; the consequences were seemingly not
> valued correctly.
> 
There are a number of things that I don't particularly like about C's 
declaration syntax, or where I think it would have been better if it 
were different.  But the "inside-to-outside" ordering is not one of 
them.  That is not because I think it is better or clearer than 
left-to-right ordering, but because when I compare to, say, Pascal, it's 
not a big issue for me.  Far bigger are :

1. People put too much into a single type declaration, rather than 
building types out of logical parts with a purpose and a name.  They 
don't do it as much as Bart likes to pretend, but some people do it too 
much for my liking.  The language doesn't force you to do that - it's 
programmer style.  IMHO there is never a reason for a "pointer to an 
array of function pointers taking int and returning void" - no matter 
what syntax is used.  Give a name to the function pointer type that 
reflects the usage (/not/ a name that reflects the definition), and 
build up from there.

2. Being able to declare variables and functions with different types in 
the same declaration.  Very occasionally, I find it convenient to 
declare more than one variable at once - "int a, b, c;".  It is rare in 
my code - generally it is one variable with an initialiser (and perhaps 
a comment) at a time.  But it is - IMHO - a bad thing that you can write 
"int a, xs[20], *p, (*f)(void);" in one declaration.

Both of these are overcome by simply not writing code that way. 
Obviously that is easy to achieve in my own code, but other people may 
use a different style.

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#403322

FromJanis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com>
Date2026-10-19 16:03 +0200
Message-ID<11b57vh$1kr9u$3@dont-email.me>
In reply to#403319
On 2026-10-19 15:46, David Brown wrote:
> On 19/10/2026 15:16, Janis Papanagnou wrote:
>> [...]
>>
> There are a number of things that I don't particularly like about C's 
> declaration syntax, or where I think it would have been better if it 
> were different.  But the "inside-to-outside" ordering is not one of 
> them.  That is not because I think it is better or clearer than left-to- 
> right ordering, but because when I compare to, say, Pascal, it's not a 
> big issue for me.  Far bigger are :
> 
> 1. People put too much into a single type declaration, rather than 
> building types out of logical parts with a purpose and a name. 

Yes, that can be regularly observed, and not only in case of the
declaration but generally; with known building blocks you can
construct arbitrary complex expressions incrementally, so it might
not appear as a problem at the time one writes it. But then parsing
complex expressions - say, if that code is from another person or
source - it gets difficult. (Topic reminds me Regexp expressions.)
But also program composition in general is sometimes following an
incremental growing process. Structuring is the key.

> They 
> don't do it as much as Bart likes to pretend, but some people do it too 
> much for my liking.  The language doesn't force you to do that - it's 
> programmer style.  IMHO there is never a reason for a "pointer to an 
> array of function pointers taking int and returning void" - no matter 
> what syntax is used.  Give a name to the function pointer type that 
> reflects the usage (/not/ a name that reflects the definition), and 
> build up from there.

I fully agree.

Where I obviously have a different valuation is that I saw in other
languages' contexts that there's less issues with this topic.

> 
> 2. Being able to declare variables and functions with different types in 
> the same declaration.  Very occasionally, I find it convenient to 
> declare more than one variable at once - "int a, b, c;".  It is rare in 
> my code - generally it is one variable with an initialiser (and perhaps 
> a comment) at a time. 

Absolutely the same for me.

> But it is - IMHO - a bad thing that you can write 
> "int a, xs[20], *p, (*f)(void);" in one declaration.

I agree. - But as opposed to other posters that's no serious problem;
"if it hurts, just don't do it".

> 
> Both of these are overcome by simply not writing code that way.

(I should have read your post to the end before my previous statement.)

> Obviously that is easy to achieve in my own code, but other people may 
> use a different style.

And that's why companies instantiate coding standards.

Janis

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#403339

Frombart <bc@freeuk.com>
Date2026-10-19 22:28 +0100
Message-ID<11b6224$2ejik$1@dont-email.me>
In reply to#403319
On 19/10/2026 14:46, David Brown wrote:
> On 19/10/2026 15:16, Janis Papanagnou wrote:
>> On 2026-10-18 21:09, David Brown wrote:
>>> On 18/10/2026 18:09, bart wrote:
>>>> [...]
>> [ declaration syntax ]
>>
>> (I just want to comment on a [not unimportant] detail...)
>>
>>>
>>> You need to give things in the right order, or use parentheses, to 
>>> get the right "type expression".  It's just like any other kind of 
>>> expression.
>>>
>>> The intention of the declaration syntax in C is that the declaration 
>>> order follows usage.  [...]
>>
>> I think the first part is downplaying that languages typically indeed
>> make a distinction between parenthesized expressions and declarations.
>> Quite some other languages [not from the C-heritage] that I used all
>> did not need to introduce "expression"-grouping for _declarations_ in
>> the first place given their more consistent ways to declare entities.
>>
>> The second part is, as I had understood C's history, the idea behind
>> how it got defined; needless to say that I think that was a bad idea.
>> But that's what we've got! If they had dropped that requirement/idea
>> the declaration syntax could have become "better" (more consistent,
>> less cryptic, less convoluted, clearer). Now, after half a century,
>> we just have to live with that, and folks who have "problems" with it
>> should better not touch this language (or maybe not doing programming
>> at all). The somewhat tragic aspect is that the "declaration follows
>> use" idea was (IIRC) intended to _simplify_ the understanding of its
>> concepts and use of the language; the consequences were seemingly not
>> valued correctly.
>>
> There are a number of things that I don't particularly like about C's 
> declaration syntax, or where I think it would have been better if it 
> were different.  But the "inside-to-outside" ordering is not one of 
> them.  That is not because I think it is better or clearer than left-to- 
> right ordering, but because when I compare to, say, Pascal, it's not a 
> big issue for me.  Far bigger are :
> 
> 1. People put too much into a single type declaration, rather than 
> building types out of logical parts with a purpose and a name.  They 
> don't do it as much as Bart likes to pretend, but some people do it too 
> much for my liking.  The language doesn't force you to do that - it's 
> programmer style.  IMHO there is never a reason for a "pointer to an 
> array of function pointers taking int and returning void" - no matter 
> what syntax is used.

Then you have a peculiar and restricted coding style.

(Funny that when I suggest that nested loop breaks are uncommon, 
everyone says I'm wrong! Some even write 200-line made-up examples to 
prove their point.)

These are two actual function pointer arrays from my projects (not C):

     []ref proc hosthandlers = ...

     [pclnames.len]ref proc(pcl) px_handlertable

There is no reason to abstract away that function pointer type.

You probably do so in C /because/ the type involves * () and [] but have 
somehow persuaded yourself that it just better that way.

Note that 'pcl' in my example /is/ a typedef; here it makes sense as it 
is used in 100s of places. This function pointer occurs in only one place.

(The C version looks like: 'void (*name[N]))T)'. I used a tool and 
transcribed it, then I double-checked and found I'd written '(*name)[N]' 
not '(*name[N])'; I wouldn't have noticed.)

BTW what name would be given to such a function pointer type? There is 
nothing obvious other than 'funcptr', but suppose there is more than one 
in scope?

Something else strikes me about breaking up a complex type-decl sequence 
into a chain of typedefs: if you take that list of typedefs, and rotate 
it 90 degrees c/w, you have something that resembles the LTR representation!

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#403370

FromDavid Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no>
Date2026-10-20 10:01 +0200
Message-ID<11b774o$2m8c9$3@dont-email.me>
In reply to#403339
On 19/10/2026 23:28, bart wrote:
> On 19/10/2026 14:46, David Brown wrote:
>> On 19/10/2026 15:16, Janis Papanagnou wrote:
>>> On 2026-10-18 21:09, David Brown wrote:
>>>> On 18/10/2026 18:09, bart wrote:
>>>>> [...]
>>> [ declaration syntax ]
>>>
>>> (I just want to comment on a [not unimportant] detail...)
>>>
>>>>
>>>> You need to give things in the right order, or use parentheses, to 
>>>> get the right "type expression".  It's just like any other kind of 
>>>> expression.
>>>>
>>>> The intention of the declaration syntax in C is that the declaration 
>>>> order follows usage.  [...]
>>>
>>> I think the first part is downplaying that languages typically indeed
>>> make a distinction between parenthesized expressions and declarations.
>>> Quite some other languages [not from the C-heritage] that I used all
>>> did not need to introduce "expression"-grouping for _declarations_ in
>>> the first place given their more consistent ways to declare entities.
>>>
>>> The second part is, as I had understood C's history, the idea behind
>>> how it got defined; needless to say that I think that was a bad idea.
>>> But that's what we've got! If they had dropped that requirement/idea
>>> the declaration syntax could have become "better" (more consistent,
>>> less cryptic, less convoluted, clearer). Now, after half a century,
>>> we just have to live with that, and folks who have "problems" with it
>>> should better not touch this language (or maybe not doing programming
>>> at all). The somewhat tragic aspect is that the "declaration follows
>>> use" idea was (IIRC) intended to _simplify_ the understanding of its
>>> concepts and use of the language; the consequences were seemingly not
>>> valued correctly.
>>>
>> There are a number of things that I don't particularly like about C's 
>> declaration syntax, or where I think it would have been better if it 
>> were different.  But the "inside-to-outside" ordering is not one of 
>> them.  That is not because I think it is better or clearer than left- 
>> to- right ordering, but because when I compare to, say, Pascal, it's 
>> not a big issue for me.  Far bigger are :
>>
>> 1. People put too much into a single type declaration, rather than 
>> building types out of logical parts with a purpose and a name.  They 
>> don't do it as much as Bart likes to pretend, but some people do it 
>> too much for my liking.  The language doesn't force you to do that - 
>> it's programmer style.  IMHO there is never a reason for a "pointer to 
>> an array of function pointers taking int and returning void" - no 
>> matter what syntax is used.
> 
> Then you have a peculiar and restricted coding style.

I don't believe so, no - at least, not compared to other code in my 
field.  It /is/ restricted, but so is everyone's coding style.

> 
> (Funny that when I suggest that nested loop breaks are uncommon, 
> everyone says I'm wrong! Some even write 200-line made-up examples to 
> prove their point.)

I don't remember "everyone" saying you were wrong to say that nested 
loop breaks are uncommon - in fact, I don't remember /anyone/ saying 
that was wrong.  A few people have suggested that they personally would 
often find some kind of multi-level break useful, but I do not believe 
many people think it is common, as a fraction of all C code they write.

(You really should cut down on the paranoia and the exaggerations.)

> 
> These are two actual function pointer arrays from my projects (not C):
> 
>      []ref proc hosthandlers = ...
> 
>      [pclnames.len]ref proc(pcl) px_handlertable
> 
> There is no reason to abstract away that function pointer type.
> 
> You probably do so in C /because/ the type involves * () and [] but have 
> somehow persuaded yourself that it just better that way.

Do you hear that whooshing noise?  It is the sound of the point flying 
far above your head.

Here is an example of some sensible function typedefs, all from 
third-party code (so not my "peculiar" style)

struct tmrTimerControl;
typedef struct tmrTimerControl * TimerHandle_t;
typedef void (*TimerCallbackFunction_t)( TimerHandle_t xTimer );

TimerHandle_t xTimerCreate(  const char * const pcTimerName,
                  TickType_t xTimerPeriodInTicks,
                  UBaseType_t uxAutoReload,
                  void * pvTimerID,
                  TimerCallbackFunction_t pxCallbackFunction );

typedef void (*TaskFunction_t)( void * );
typedef BaseType_t (*TaskHookFunction_t)( void * );

typedef void  (*altcp_err_fn)(void *arg, err_t err);


typedef void (*lwip_thread_fn)(void *arg);
typedef void (*tcpip_init_done_fn)(void *arg);
typedef void (*tcpip_callback_fn)(void *ctx);
typedef void (* sys_timeout_handler)(void *arg);
typedef void (*dns_found_callback)(const char *name,
                  const ip_addr_t *ipaddr, void *callback_arg);

Ask yourself why the typedefs are used.  Look at the /names/.  Those 
last four are all from the same network stack library, and are all 
typedefs for "void (*)(void*)".  That function type could easily have 
been written out in full in each declaration that used them.  Yet the 
actual functions using them specifically choose to use the type names 
that are relevant at the time.


Do you really need me to spoon-feed you the reasons why this is all a 
good idea?  People name types because it makes their code clearer, more 
robust, more flexible, more portable.

> 
> Note that 'pcl' in my example /is/ a typedef; here it makes sense as it 
> is used in 100s of places. This function pointer occurs in only one place.

I'm sorry, I had mistaken you for a programmer who wanted to write good, 
clear programs.  Naming things is not a shortcut to save keypresses.

> 
> (The C version looks like: 'void (*name[N]))T)'. I used a tool and 
> transcribed it, then I double-checked and found I'd written '(*name)[N]' 
> not '(*name[N])'; I wouldn't have noticed.)
> 
> BTW what name would be given to such a function pointer type? There is 
> nothing obvious other than 'funcptr', but suppose there is more than one 
> in scope?

I have no idea what your code is supposed to do, so I have no idea what 
names would be good.  Presumably you /do/ know what it is for - such as 
what "pcl" means - so /you/ pick good names.  Maybe "host_handler_fn" ?

> 
> Something else strikes me about breaking up a complex type-decl sequence 
> into a chain of typedefs: if you take that list of typedefs, and rotate 
> it 90 degrees c/w, you have something that resembles the LTR 
> representation!
> 

If the details of the declaration syntax matter, you are doing it wrong.



[toc] | [prev] | [next] | [standalone]


#403374

Frombart <bc@freeuk.com>
Date2026-10-20 12:41 +0100
Message-ID<11b7k22$2v8e5$1@dont-email.me>
In reply to#403370
On 20/10/2026 09:01, David Brown wrote:
> On 19/10/2026 23:28, bart wrote:

>> (Funny that when I suggest that nested loop breaks are uncommon, 
>> everyone says I'm wrong! Some even write 200-line made-up examples to 
>> prove their point.)
> 
> I don't remember "everyone" saying you were wrong to say that nested 
> loop breaks are uncommon - in fact, I don't remember /anyone/ saying 
> that was wrong. 

(There was a LOT of antipathy towards my idea to fix the common case of 
'loop-break' clashing with 'switch-break', BECAUSE it did not fix the 
problem of nested loop-break, which is uncommon, even though that wasn't 
the aim.)

>> There is no reason to abstract away that function pointer type.
>>
>> You probably do so in C /because/ the type involves * () and [] but 
>> have somehow persuaded yourself that it just better that way.
> 
> Do you hear that whooshing noise?  It is the sound of the point flying 
> far above your head.
> 
> Here is an example of some sensible function typedefs, all from third- 
> party code (so not my "peculiar" style)
> 

> typedef void (*TimerCallbackFunction_t)( TimerHandle_t xTimer );
> 
> TimerHandle_t xTimerCreate(  const char * const pcTimerName,
>                   TickType_t xTimerPeriodInTicks,
>                   UBaseType_t uxAutoReload,
>                   void * pvTimerID,
>                   TimerCallbackFunction_t pxCallbackFunction );
> 

> typedef void (*lwip_thread_fn)(void *arg);
> typedef void (*tcpip_init_done_fn)(void *arg);
> typedef void (*tcpip_callback_fn)(void *ctx);
> typedef void (* sys_timeout_handler)(void *arg);
> typedef void (*dns_found_callback)(const char *name,
>                   const ip_addr_t *ipaddr, void *callback_arg);


This is the kind of C I find hard to read. There are lots of typedefs 
but few uses of those typedefs that I can see, so I don't know how much 
difference they make.

Except here:

  typedef void (*TimerCallbackFunction_t)( TimerHandle_t xTimer );

  TimerHandle_t xTimerCreate(  const char * const pcTimerName,
                    TickType_t xTimerPeriodInTicks,
                    UBaseType_t uxAutoReload,
                    void * pvTimerID,
                    TimerCallbackFunction_t pxCallbackFunction );

Without the typedef, I believe it would just be this:

TimerHandle_t xTimerCreate(  const char * const pcTimerName,
                  TickType_t xTimerPeriodInTicks,
                  UBaseType_t uxAutoReload,
                  void * pvTimerID,
                  void (*pxCallbackFunction)(TimerHandle_t));

(I've left out the parameter name of the callback function, as I don't 
believe it is that useful.

I've left in the regular parameter names, even though C doesn't need 
them, but they are quite heavy - you don't really need those 
Hungarian-style prefixes.)

Well, I guess this buys you one thing: the parameter name for the last 
parameter is to the right of its type, rather than be inside it. But a C 
expert should not be fazed by that.

Here is the same function as I might write it in an alternative syntax.

I've kept the same names, but changed case-style and removed prefixes 
and suffixes. I've capitalised user-type names:

func TimerCreate(                 # (retain case if FFI import)
     ichar     timername,
     Ticktype  timerperiodinticks,
     Ubasetype autoreload,
     ref void  timerid,
     ref proc(Timerhandle) callbackfn)

In this form, it's hard to see what benefit a typedef would give for 
that last parameter; it is simple enough.


> Ask yourself why the typedefs are used.  Look at the /names/.  Those 
> last four are all from the same network stack library, and are all 
> typedefs for "void (*)(void*)".

Until you mentioned it, I hadn't noticed. So typedef has done a good job 
of hiding that useful fact! But looking more closely, it is the first 
four of the last five.

Let's take one:

  typedef void (*lwip_thread_fn)(void *arg);

That 'arg' is not much use for a start (other than being a hint that 
this particular (...) is where the parameters go).

So, maybe this is used like this:

   void F(lwip_thread_fn lwip_thread_callback);

Here you have two identifiers imparting the sort kind of information; a 
tautology.

If that function pointer pattern is common, or recurs in a suite of 
functions, I might also have used a typedef, but with a common name. 
Then only one would be needed, say:

  typedef void (*stack_callbackfn)(void);

I might have done the same in that alternate syntax as it would start to 
get cluttery: 'ref proc(ref void)', but also in order to define that 
common pattern in one place.

>> Note that 'pcl' in my example /is/ a typedef; here it makes sense as 
>> it is used in 100s of places. This function pointer occurs in only one 
>> place.
> 
> I'm sorry, I had mistaken you for a programmer who wanted to write good, 
> clear programs.  Naming things is not a shortcut to save keypresses.

Isn't that one of the main uses of typedefs? So as to give a handy, 
'euphonious' one-token alias to an elaborate typedef.

It also allows you to change the type in one place without having to 
update hundreds of instances.

It also allows the type to be opaque.

Saving keypresses is bonus benefit, but if it is shorter, then it can 
also help readability as other critical elements are not overshadowed.

So I'm not sure what objection you have to this particular use of it.

Here is the one place I do remember using typedef for a function pointer 
(from an old project, not in C):

     type fnptr = ref proc

     repeat
         (fnptr(pcptr^))^()
     until stopped

It's used as a cast, but reason I have it is because with simple cast 
syntax, which is 'T(X)', the meaning without it would be ambiguous (a 
grammar issue that I might fix one day).

Rather than fallback to standard cast syntax (which is 'cast(X, T)'), 
this was tidier.

>> BTW what name would be given to such a function pointer type?

> I have no idea what your code is supposed to do,

It's a table of function pointers! All sharing the same signature.

That's pretty generic. Is it really that hard to guess? You don't need 
to know what they do, other than at some point they will be called as 
handlertable[i](arg).

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#403377

FromDavid Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no>
Date2026-10-20 14:58 +0200
Message-ID<11b7ogt$2m8c9$5@dont-email.me>
In reply to#403374
On 20/10/2026 13:41, bart wrote:
> On 20/10/2026 09:01, David Brown wrote:
>> On 19/10/2026 23:28, bart wrote:
> 
>>> (Funny that when I suggest that nested loop breaks are uncommon, 
>>> everyone says I'm wrong! Some even write 200-line made-up examples to 
>>> prove their point.)
>>
>> I don't remember "everyone" saying you were wrong to say that nested 
>> loop breaks are uncommon - in fact, I don't remember /anyone/ saying 
>> that was wrong. 
> 
> (There was a LOT of antipathy towards my idea to fix the common case of 
> 'loop-break' clashing with 'switch-break', BECAUSE it did not fix the 
> problem of nested loop-break, which is uncommon, even though that wasn't 
> the aim.)

It is correct that the idea of having a "loop-break" statement was 
considered and quickly rejected by people looking at multi-level breaks. 
  It would be silly, when first making a language change to handle one 
type of coding situation, to pick a special case when a more general 
solution could be used.  I don't think anyone was arguing that the 
desire for breaking out of nested loops was /common/, but I don't think 
many people felt breaking out of a switch in a loop was common either. 
Both needs are relatively rare in general C coding.

But while the consensus is that a "loop-break" statement is not worth 
adding to C, that is a completely different thing than claiming that 
"everyone" said you were wrong to say nested loop breaks are common!

So - again - please cut the paranoia and exaggerations, and /read/ what 
people write, rather than the conspiracies you imagine they write.

> 
>>> There is no reason to abstract away that function pointer type.
>>>
>>> You probably do so in C /because/ the type involves * () and [] but 
>>> have somehow persuaded yourself that it just better that way.
>>
>> Do you hear that whooshing noise?  It is the sound of the point flying 
>> far above your head.
>>
>> Here is an example of some sensible function typedefs, all from third- 
>> party code (so not my "peculiar" style)
>>
> 
>> typedef void (*TimerCallbackFunction_t)( TimerHandle_t xTimer );
>>
>> TimerHandle_t xTimerCreate(  const char * const pcTimerName,
>>                   TickType_t xTimerPeriodInTicks,
>>                   UBaseType_t uxAutoReload,
>>                   void * pvTimerID,
>>                   TimerCallbackFunction_t pxCallbackFunction );
>>
> 
>> typedef void (*lwip_thread_fn)(void *arg);
>> typedef void (*tcpip_init_done_fn)(void *arg);
>> typedef void (*tcpip_callback_fn)(void *ctx);
>> typedef void (* sys_timeout_handler)(void *arg);
>> typedef void (*dns_found_callback)(const char *name,
>>                   const ip_addr_t *ipaddr, void *callback_arg);
> 
> 
> This is the kind of C I find hard to read. There are lots of typedefs 
> but few uses of those typedefs that I can see, so I don't know how much 
> difference they make.

Yes, sorry, I should have posted tens of thousands of lines of C code 
using these.  I'm sure that would have made things much clearer than a 
couple of extracted examples.


But let us take a concrete example.  These network functions are from 
the LWIP network stack, which is designed to be used on small embedded 
systems that may not have any kind of OS - so it uses call-backs for 
asynchronous programming.

An example API function is this :

err_t dns_gethostbyname(const char *hostname, ip_addr_t *addr,
                         dns_found_callback found, void *callback_arg)

The returned "err_t" can be "ERR_OK" (indicating the "hostname" is in 
the DNS cache and *addr is set to the IP), "ERR_ARG" for argument 
errors, or "ERR_INPROGRESS" to indicate that the stack is looking up the 
DNS name, and will call the callback when there is a final result or 
timeout.


Without typedef's, that function signature would be something like :

signed char dns_gethostbyname(const char *hostname, struct ip_addr
	*addr, void (*found)(const char *name,	const struct ip_addr
	*ipaddr, void *callback_arg), void *callback_arg);


Do you expect anyone to believe you if you claim this is easier to read 
than the real declaration using typedefs?  I'll believe you if you say 
you find the original hard to read - but not if you claim the 
"untypedef'ed" version is clearer.

The typedefs let you understand the code piece by piece.

A "dns_found_callback" is a callback function called when a dns lookup 
has finished - that's clear from its name.  It is called with arguments 
the name that was looked up, the ip address that was found, and a 
user-supplied extra argument that can be used as you want.  That's 
simple and clear.

The "dns_gethostbyname" function is a function to find a host's IP 
address, given its name - that's clear from the name.  It is called with 
the name to look up, a pointer to a place to store the resulting IP 
address, a callback function of type "dns_found_callback" if it can't 
answer immediately, and a user-supplied extra argument for the callback 
function.  This is again, simple and clear.


> 
> Except here:
> 
>   typedef void (*TimerCallbackFunction_t)( TimerHandle_t xTimer );
> 
>   TimerHandle_t xTimerCreate(  const char * const pcTimerName,
>                     TickType_t xTimerPeriodInTicks,
>                     UBaseType_t uxAutoReload,
>                     void * pvTimerID,
>                     TimerCallbackFunction_t pxCallbackFunction );
> 
> Without the typedef, I believe it would just be this:
> 
> TimerHandle_t xTimerCreate(  const char * const pcTimerName,
>                   TickType_t xTimerPeriodInTicks,
>                   UBaseType_t uxAutoReload,
>                   void * pvTimerID,
>                   void (*pxCallbackFunction)(TimerHandle_t));
> 
> (I've left out the parameter name of the callback function, as I don't 
> believe it is that useful.
> 
> I've left in the regular parameter names, even though C doesn't need 
> them, but they are quite heavy - you don't really need those Hungarian- 
> style prefixes.)

/C/ does not need the parameter names - /programmers/ need them, because 
they tell you want they do.  Omitting them is as smart as calling all 
your functions "foo1", "foo2", etc., just because C does not require 
sensible names.

The point of using typedefs here is that they make the xTimerCreate() 
function declaration simpler and clearer, and it tells the programmer 
what is going on.  It tells the programmer that the parameter is a 
TimerCallbackFunction - not just any old function that takes a 
TimerHandle_t parameter.  The programmer knows that a suitable argument 
is their "flash_the_green_led" function, but not their 
"initialise_timer" function that happens coincidentally to have the same 
signature.

> 
> Well, I guess this buys you one thing: the parameter name for the last 
> parameter is to the right of its type, rather than be inside it. But a C 
> expert should not be fazed by that.
> 
> Here is the same function as I might write it in an alternative syntax.
> 
> I've kept the same names, but changed case-style and removed prefixes 
> and suffixes. I've capitalised user-type names:
> 
> func TimerCreate(                 # (retain case if FFI import)
>      ichar     timername,
>      Ticktype  timerperiodinticks,
>      Ubasetype autoreload,
>      ref void  timerid,
>      ref proc(Timerhandle) callbackfn)
> 
> In this form, it's hard to see what benefit a typedef would give for 
> that last parameter; it is simple enough.

I am glad I don't have to work with your code - whatever language you 
use.  The number one skill for programmers is picking good names, and 
you flumped that one.

> 
> 
>> Ask yourself why the typedefs are used.  Look at the /names/.  Those 
>> last four are all from the same network stack library, and are all 
>> typedefs for "void (*)(void*)".
> 
> Until you mentioned it, I hadn't noticed. So typedef has done a good job 
> of hiding that useful fact! But looking more closely, it is the first 
> four of the last five.

It is not "hiding a useful fact" - it is abstracting away from an 
unintended coincidence.  My own preference is to use stronger types, 
precisely so that things could not be mixed up.  I'd have :

typedef struct { void * arg; } lwip_thread_arg;
typedef void (*lwip_thread_fn)(lwip_thread_arg * arg);

typedef struct { void * arg; } tcpip_init_done_arg;
typedef void (*tcpip_init_done_fn)(tcpip_init_done_arg * arg);

(If I were to go back in time and change things in C, I'd make "typedef" 
define new types, not type aliases.)

> 
> Let's take one:
> 
>   typedef void (*lwip_thread_fn)(void *arg);
> 
> That 'arg' is not much use for a start (other than being a hint that 
> this particular (...) is where the parameters go).
> 
> So, maybe this is used like this:
> 
>    void F(lwip_thread_fn lwip_thread_callback);
> 
> Here you have two identifiers imparting the sort kind of information; a 
> tautology.

You don't need to duplicate the name when it is not helpful - and you 
certainly should not do so when it is clearly wrong (a thread function 
is not a callback function, even if the signatures match).  A real 
function signature using this type is :

sys_thread_t sys_thread_new(const char *name, lwip_thread_fn thread,
                     void *arg, int stacksize, int prio);

> 
> If that function pointer pattern is common, or recurs in a suite of 
> functions, I might also have used a typedef, but with a common name. 
> Then only one would be needed, say:
> 
>   typedef void (*stack_callbackfn)(void);

/You/ might have written that, but it would be significantly worse code. 
  You are obsessed with the details of the syntax of the type, instead 
of looking at what it represents and what it will mean in the code.

There can be occasional uses for "generic" names, like :

	typedef void (*fp_void)(void);

just as there are uses for generic "int" types rather than types like 
"size_t", "int32_t", "TickType_t", etc.  But using well-named types 
conveys vital information.  Using badly named types, or re-using named 
types inappropriately, makes code worse.

> 
> I might have done the same in that alternate syntax as it would start to 
> get cluttery: 'ref proc(ref void)', but also in order to define that 
> common pattern in one place.
> 
>>> Note that 'pcl' in my example /is/ a typedef; here it makes sense as 
>>> it is used in 100s of places. This function pointer occurs in only 
>>> one place.
>>
>> I'm sorry, I had mistaken you for a programmer who wanted to write 
>> good, clear programs.  Naming things is not a shortcut to save 
>> keypresses.
> 
> Isn't that one of the main uses of typedefs? So as to give a handy, 
> 'euphonious' one-token alias to an elaborate typedef.

No, it should not be your main use of typedef - but it might 
occasionally be a reason.

> 
> It also allows you to change the type in one place without having to 
> update hundreds of instances.
> 
> It also allows the type to be opaque.

Now you are beginning to understand!  Yes, these are two key reasons for 
typedefs.

> 
> Saving keypresses is bonus benefit, but if it is shorter, then it can 
> also help readability as other critical elements are not overshadowed.

I agree - but that is a bonus, not an aim in itself.  There is a balance 
to be found between being too verbose, and not being explicit enough. 
The "right" balance point depends very much on the context, the code, 
and the target audience.

> 
> So I'm not sure what objection you have to this particular use of it.

I don't object to having shorter aliases when appropriate.  I object to 
it as a prime motivation.

> 
> Here is the one place I do remember using typedef for a function pointer 
> (from an old project, not in C):
> 
>      type fnptr = ref proc
> 
>      repeat
>          (fnptr(pcptr^))^()
>      until stopped
> 
> It's used as a cast, but reason I have it is because with simple cast 
> syntax, which is 'T(X)', the meaning without it would be ambiguous (a 
> grammar issue that I might fix one day).
> 
> Rather than fallback to standard cast syntax (which is 'cast(X, T)'), 
> this was tidier.
> 
>>> BTW what name would be given to such a function pointer type?
> 
>> I have no idea what your code is supposed to do,
> 
> It's a table of function pointers! All sharing the same signature.

I can't see any use in a table of function pointers.  I can see a use in 
a table of event handlers, a table of timer callback functions, a table 
of state machine state handlers, etc.

It's like saying you have an array of "int".  No, you have an array of 
the days in each month of the year, or an array of timestamps of 
keypresses, or an array of the cost of different coffee mugs.

> 
> That's pretty generic. Is it really that hard to guess? You don't need 
> to know what they do, other than at some point they will be called as 
> handlertable[i](arg).
> 

That is why I guessed "host_handler_fn" as a name, but you snipped that.

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#403393

FromKeith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com>
Date2026-10-20 17:05 -0700
Message-ID<11b8vl0$3g2gf$1@kst.eternal-september.org>
In reply to#403377
David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> writes:
[...]
> Without typedef's, that function signature would be something like :
>
> signed char dns_gethostbyname(const char *hostname, struct ip_addr
> 	*addr, void (*found)(const char *name,	const struct ip_addr
> 	*ipaddr, void *callback_arg), void *callback_arg);

I might write that as:

    signed char dns_gethostbyname(
        const char *hostname,
        struct ip_addr *addr,
        void (*found)(
            const char *name,
            const struct ip_addr *ipaddr,
            void *callback_arg
        ),
        void *callback_arg
    );

so the indentation and structure reflects the semantics.  I find
that much clearer than your version.  (I'm not commenting on the
merits of typedefs.)

-- 
Keith Thompson (The_Other_Keith) Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com
void Void(void) { Void(); } /* The recursive call of the void */

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#403406

FromDavid Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no>
Date2026-10-21 12:45 +0200
Message-ID<11ba54b$3peq3$2@dont-email.me>
In reply to#403393
On 21/10/2026 02:05, Keith Thompson wrote:
> David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> writes:
> [...]
>> Without typedef's, that function signature would be something like :
>>
>> signed char dns_gethostbyname(const char *hostname, struct ip_addr
>> 	*addr, void (*found)(const char *name,	const struct ip_addr
>> 	*ipaddr, void *callback_arg), void *callback_arg);
> 
> I might write that as:
> 
>      signed char dns_gethostbyname(
>          const char *hostname,
>          struct ip_addr *addr,
>          void (*found)(
>              const char *name,
>              const struct ip_addr *ipaddr,
>              void *callback_arg
>          ),
>          void *callback_arg
>      );
> 
> so the indentation and structure reflects the semantics.  I find
> that much clearer than your version.  (I'm not commenting on the
> merits of typedefs.)
> 

Certainly the indentation makes the unpleasant non-typedef'ed version 
clearer.  And /if/ I had to write that function signature without 
typedefs, I would structure it like you had - but I can't think of any 
reason I would ever have to do so.

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#403395

Frombart <bc@freeuk.com>
Date2026-10-21 02:04 +0100
Message-ID<11b933e$3h3d0$1@dont-email.me>
In reply to#403377
On 20/10/2026 13:58, David Brown wrote:
> On 20/10/2026 13:41, bart wrote:

> But let us take a concrete example.  These network functions are from 
> the LWIP network stack, which is designed to be used on small embedded 
> systems that may not have any kind of OS - so it uses call-backs for 
> asynchronous programming.
> 
> An example API function is this :
> 
> err_t dns_gethostbyname(const char *hostname, ip_addr_t *addr,
>                          dns_found_callback found, void *callback_arg)
> 
> The returned "err_t" can be "ERR_OK" (indicating the "hostname" is in 
> the DNS cache and *addr is set to the IP), "ERR_ARG" for argument 
> errors, or "ERR_INPROGRESS" to indicate that the stack is looking up the 
> DNS name, and will call the callback when there is a final result or 
> timeout.
> 
> 
> Without typedef's, that function signature would be something like :
> 
> signed char dns_gethostbyname(const char *hostname, struct ip_addr
>      *addr, void (*found)(const char *name,    const struct ip_addr
>      *ipaddr, void *callback_arg), void *callback_arg);
> 
> 
> Do you expect anyone to believe you if you claim this is easier to read 
> than the real declaration using typedefs?  I'll believe you if you say 
> you find the original hard to read - but not if you claim the 
> "untypedef'ed" version is clearer.

Neither are great. But let's first lay them out better:

  err_t
     dns_gethostbyname(
       const char *hostname,
       ip_addr_t  *addr,
       dns_found_callback found,
       void       *callback_arg
     );

Here, one problem is that there are 3 types that I don't know and would 
have to look up. The long version at least has all the info in one place:

  signed char
     dns_gethostbyname(
       const char     *hostname,
       struct ip_addr *addr,
       void (*found)(const char *name, const struct ip_addr *ipaddr, 
void *callback_arg),
       void           *callback_arg
     );

That signed char return is unusual; why not 'int'? (How would you even 
print an 'err_t' value anyway)?

That 'ip_addr_t' turns out to be a struct. For those I would use 
typedefs anyway; I rarely use struct tags and you have to invent an 
identifier in either case.

Then we come to the function pointer, which is a quite a chunky one, but 
let's work with it. Here, I would question whether you really need those 
types in there, and especially those names.

Presumably you have a regular function of your own with the same 
signature? You anyway never directly 'call' this parameter with 
arguments; you just pass it the address of your handler.

Or do you use that typedef as documentation?

Where does the info come from anyway; does the library export a suitable 
typedef? In that case you might as well use it. But if not, info must 
come from elsewhere.

Anyway with some tweaks in place, using the struct typedef and using an 
inline function pointer type, it would look like this:

  signed char
     dns_gethostbyname(
       const char *hostname,
       IP_addr    *addr,
       void      (*found)(char*, IP_addr*, void *),
       void       *arg
    );

In this form, it is not wildly different from your short version.

So I would look at other ways of tidying up before resorting to 
extraneous typedefs.

But here, there may well be an extra reason to use a callback typedef; I 
don't have the full details.

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#403407

FromDavid Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no>
Date2026-10-21 13:21 +0200
Message-ID<11ba78m$3peq3$3@dont-email.me>
In reply to#403395
On 21/10/2026 03:04, bart wrote:
> On 20/10/2026 13:58, David Brown wrote:
>> On 20/10/2026 13:41, bart wrote:
> 
>> But let us take a concrete example.  These network functions are from 
>> the LWIP network stack, which is designed to be used on small embedded 
>> systems that may not have any kind of OS - so it uses call-backs for 
>> asynchronous programming.
>>
>> An example API function is this :
>>
>> err_t dns_gethostbyname(const char *hostname, ip_addr_t *addr,
>>                          dns_found_callback found, void *callback_arg)
>>
>> The returned "err_t" can be "ERR_OK" (indicating the "hostname" is in 
>> the DNS cache and *addr is set to the IP), "ERR_ARG" for argument 
>> errors, or "ERR_INPROGRESS" to indicate that the stack is looking up 
>> the DNS name, and will call the callback when there is a final result 
>> or timeout.
>>
>>
>> Without typedef's, that function signature would be something like :
>>
>> signed char dns_gethostbyname(const char *hostname, struct ip_addr
>>      *addr, void (*found)(const char *name,    const struct ip_addr
>>      *ipaddr, void *callback_arg), void *callback_arg);
>>
>>
>> Do you expect anyone to believe you if you claim this is easier to 
>> read than the real declaration using typedefs?  I'll believe you if 
>> you say you find the original hard to read - but not if you claim the 
>> "untypedef'ed" version is clearer.
> 
> Neither are great. But let's first lay them out better:
> 
>   err_t
>      dns_gethostbyname(
>        const char *hostname,
>        ip_addr_t  *addr,
>        dns_found_callback found,
>        void       *callback_arg
>      );

OK.  I'd not write it that way, and I don't think it is better, but 
that's a subjective opinion.

(As a note on layout, the original code is not as line-length restricted 
as a Usenet post, and the code has Doxygen comments.  That means that 
there is additional comment information in header, and that the user 
documentation, which is the normal way to get details of the API, is 
generated html.)

> 
> Here, one problem is that there are 3 types that I don't know and would 
> have to look up.

Incorrect.

There are three types that are not standard C types, but if you are 
using this function, you don't have to look them up.  You generally 
don't need to know what they are - indeed, knowing their details can 
easily lead to writing poorer and less adaptable or portable code.  Only 
information about the callback function type is of interest, and even 
then it is only marginal - you look it up once when writing an 
appropriate callback function, taking negligible effort compared to 
writing the code itself.  And because it is a named type, you know 
immediately that your function is suitable for other use-cases of that 
specific named type, such as for related dns lookup APIs.

> The long version at least has all the info in one place:
> 
>   signed char
>      dns_gethostbyname(
>        const char     *hostname,
>        struct ip_addr *addr,
>        void (*found)(const char *name, const struct ip_addr *ipaddr, 
> void *callback_arg),
>        void           *callback_arg
>      );
> 
> That signed char return is unusual; why not 'int'? (How would you even 
> print an 'err_t' value anyway)?

It seems that yet again, you need an explanation of fundamental points 
of software development.  Today's lesson is on "abstraction".

It does not matter what type "err_t" is, underneath.  What matters is 
what you can /do/ with it.  It is a type that is returned by this 
function (and many others), and which can be compared to ERR_OK, 
ERR_INPROGRESS, and ERR_ARG.  That's all you need to know to use it here.

Maybe on some targets (of this portable library), err_t is "signed 
char".  Maybe on others it is "int32_t".  Maybe in a newer version of 
the library, it will be an enum.

It is also nice to know that it can be used in a switch, and cast to an 
int for printf.

The documentation for the type can give more or less detail about it. 
But it is /not/ the same as a "signed char".  That is an implementation 
detail which you should not rely on, and it is better - clearer, safer, 
more portable, more maintainable - if you do not know what it is.  (I 
didn't know, until looking it up for these posts.)  You use the correct 
type, as documented.


Or look at the "ip_addr_t" type.  It happens, at the moment, to be a 
struct.  But it might have been a union.  The size and contents of the 
struct depend on details of how the library is built - whether it has 
support for ipv4, ipv6, or both.  Maybe a future version will also 
support ipv8, or ipv5 (I've heard some people are trying to make an IP 
protocol that covers more than IPv4, but without most of the 
complicating additional features of IPv6).  It is an abstract type - you 
use it without knowing the details.


> 
> That 'ip_addr_t' turns out to be a struct. For those I would use 
> typedefs anyway; I rarely use struct tags and you have to invent an 
> identifier in either case.
> 
> Then we come to the function pointer, which is a quite a chunky one, but 
> let's work with it. Here, I would question whether you really need those 
> types in there, and especially those names.
> 
> Presumably you have a regular function of your own with the same 
> signature? You anyway never directly 'call' this parameter with 
> arguments; you just pass it the address of your handler.

Yes, that is how callbacks work.

> 
> Or do you use that typedef as documentation?

You can certainly do that if you want, in a declaration of the function 
- but it would be unusual to do so in the definition.  The typedef is 
used primarily when passing the function pointer around, or storing it 
(in a local variable, in a struct, or whatever).

> 
> Where does the info come from anyway; does the library export a suitable 
> typedef? In that case you might as well use it. But if not, info must 
> come from elsewhere.

Of course it "exports" the typedef - it is in one of the library's headers.

> 
> Anyway with some tweaks in place, using the struct typedef and using an 
> inline function pointer type, it would look like this:
> 
>   signed char
>      dns_gethostbyname(
>        const char *hostname,
>        IP_addr    *addr,
>        void      (*found)(char*, IP_addr*, void *),
>        void       *arg
>     );
> 
> In this form, it is not wildly different from your short version.

Not wildly different, just worse by counter-productively removing the 
abstractions and appropriate type names, and uselessly cluttering the 
declaration with unnecessary detail.

> 
> So I would look at other ways of tidying up before resorting to 
> extraneous typedefs.
> 
> But here, there may well be an extra reason to use a callback typedef; I 
> don't have the full details.
> 
> 

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#403409

Fromcross@spitfire.i.gajendra.net (Dan Cross)
Date2026-10-21 11:26 +0000
Message-ID<11ba7hv$4sh$1@reader2.panix.com>
In reply to#403407
In article <11ba78m$3peq3$3@dont-email.me>,
David Brown  <david.brown@hesbynett.no> wrote:
>On 21/10/2026 03:04, bart wrote:
>> [snip]
>> Anyway with some tweaks in place, using the struct typedef and using an 
>> inline function pointer type, it would look like this:
>> 
>>   signed char
>>      dns_gethostbyname(
>>        const char *hostname,
>>        IP_addr    *addr,
>>        void      (*found)(char*, IP_addr*, void *),
>>        void       *arg
>>     );
>> 
>> In this form, it is not wildly different from your short version.
>
>Not wildly different, just worse by counter-productively removing the 
>abstractions and appropriate type names, and uselessly cluttering the 
>declaration with unnecessary detail.

...and also removing the `const` qualifiers on the first two
pointer arguments to `found`.  

	- Dan C.

[toc] | [prev] | [next] | [standalone]


#403411

Frombart <bc@freeuk.com>
Date2026-10-21 12:33 +0100
Message-ID<11ba7v6$3skdl$1@dont-email.me>
In reply to#403407
On 21/10/2026 12:21, David Brown wrote:
> On 21/10/2026 03:04, bart wrote:

>> Where does the info come from anyway; does the library export a 
>> suitable typedef? In that case you might as well use it. But if not, 
>> info must come from elsewhere.
> 
> Of course it "exports" the typedef - it is in one of the library's headers.

You could have said that in the first place. So it's not really a choice 
then is it?

Then it makes sense to use what they have provided.

[toc] | [prev] | [next] | [standalone]


#403413

FromDavid Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no>
Date2026-10-21 14:21 +0200
Message-ID<11baaod$3te3v$2@dont-email.me>
In reply to#403411
On 21/10/2026 13:33, bart wrote:
> On 21/10/2026 12:21, David Brown wrote:
>> On 21/10/2026 03:04, bart wrote:
> 
>>> Where does the info come from anyway; does the library export a 
>>> suitable typedef? In that case you might as well use it. But if not, 
>>> info must come from elsewhere.
>>
>> Of course it "exports" the typedef - it is in one of the library's 
>> headers.
> 
> You could have said that in the first place. So it's not really a choice 
> then is it?

What do you mean?

There is an API in "dns.h" that uses typedefs such as "ip_addr_t" and 
"dns_found_callback".  /Obviously/ those typedefs are also included in 
the header (or other headers included by "dns.h").  This is not 
something that I should have had to point out.

> 
> Then it makes sense to use what they have provided.
> 

It always makes sense to use the types provided.

[toc] | [prev] | [next] | [standalone]


#403419

Frombart <bc@freeuk.com>
Date2026-10-21 15:41 +0100
Message-ID<11baiuc$11ac$1@dont-email.me>
In reply to#403407
On 21/10/2026 12:21, David Brown wrote:
> On 21/10/2026 03:04, bart wrote:

>> Here, one problem is that there are 3 types that I don't know and 
>> would have to look up.
> 
> Incorrect.

If I wanted to use function from a language that is not C and for which 
nobody has yet created a set of bindings, then I would have to 
investigate every single abstract type.

Even then, I might find that a year later, 'err_t' has been defined to 
be something slightly different. Standard types are easier to deal with 
and more likely to be stable.

>> That signed char return is unusual; why not 'int'? (How would you even 
>> print an 'err_t' value anyway)?
> 
> It seems that yet again, you need an explanation of fundamental points 
> of software development.  Today's lesson is on "abstraction".

OK. I've just looked at several graphics libraries. Those have chosen to 
use predominantly standard C types for function return values. And 
standard C types for numeric arguments.

Sometimes they might be prefixed, eg. GL_int, SDL_bool, probably as 
abstraction from the vagaries of standard C.

It seems a trend to invent pointless extra types for everything. In C 
itself, there are about 35 denotations for integer types, and that's 
before you get into clock_t, time_t, offset_t and everything else.

In general most boil down to one of i32 u32 i64 u64.

So you can go over the top with abstraction.

> Maybe on some targets (of this portable library), err_t is "signed 
> char".

Why not define it on top of 'int'? Is it likely that large numbers of 
error codes are going to be stored within structs and arrays so that the 
size must be minimal?

> It is also nice to know that it can be used in a switch, and cast to an 
> int for printf.

How would you know that? I thought it was abstract! Maybe err_t is a 
small struct.


> Or look at the "ip_addr_t" type.  It happens, at the moment, to be a 
> struct.  But it might have been a union.  The size and contents of the 
> struct depend on details of how the library is built - whether it has 
> support for ipv4, ipv6, or both.  Maybe a future version will also 
> support ipv8, or ipv5 (I've heard some people are trying to make an IP 
> protocol that covers more than IPv4, but without most of the 
> complicating additional features of IPv6).  It is an abstract type - you 
> use it without knowing the details.

I haven't said much about that. It is a struct so some username is 
needed. I renamed it to IP_addr in my example.

But I'm not sure it needs the _t suffix. (Is it a thing now for every 
typedef name to need _t?)

I notice however that the argument is a pointer: if ip_addr_t* values 
are commonly passed around, I would put an abstraction around that.

(However that's partly because how my language works is different; to 
access a member of the struct, I don't need to know if the type of X is 
an actual struct or is a pointer to one; I write X.addr in both cases.)

[toc] | [prev] | [next] | [standalone]


#403422

FromDavid Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no>
Date2026-10-21 17:36 +0200
Message-ID<11bam5q$1042$3@dont-email.me>
In reply to#403419
On 21/10/2026 16:41, bart wrote:
> On 21/10/2026 12:21, David Brown wrote:
>> On 21/10/2026 03:04, bart wrote:
> 
>>> Here, one problem is that there are 3 types that I don't know and 
>>> would have to look up.
>>
>> Incorrect.
> 
> If I wanted to use function from a language that is not C and for which 
> nobody has yet created a set of bindings, then I would have to 
> investigate every single abstract type.

So for a one-in-a-million use-cases, you would have to look up the type, 
such as by holding your mouse over the type, or pressing the "navigate 
to definition" shortcut in your IDE.  I think it is better to optimise 
for the 999,999 other cases.

Or you could use a real programming language, for which there is 
probably SWIG support.

> 
> Even then, I might find that a year later, 'err_t' has been defined to 
> be something slightly different. Standard types are easier to deal with 
> and more likely to be stable.

Libraries change types for good reasons.  Support for one person using 
an obscure language who does not want to have to look up a typedef is 
not going to influence that decision.  The world does not revolve around 
you and your unique needs and wants.

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#403423

Fromcross@spitfire.i.gajendra.net (Dan Cross)
Date2026-10-21 15:37 +0000
Message-ID<11bam77$6at$1@reader2.panix.com>
In reply to#403419
In article <11baiuc$11ac$1@dont-email.me>, bart  <bc@freeuk.com> wrote:
>On 21/10/2026 12:21, David Brown wrote:
>> On 21/10/2026 03:04, bart wrote:
>>> Here, one problem is that there are 3 types that I don't know and 
>>> would have to look up.
>> 
>> Incorrect.
>
>If I wanted to use function from a language that is not C and for which 
>nobody has yet created a set of bindings, then I would have to 
>investigate every single abstract type.

That is true of every programming language.

>Even then, I might find that a year later, 'err_t' has been defined to 
>be something slightly different. Standard types are easier to deal with 
>and more likely to be stable.

That is also true of every programming language.

You can write some library in BartM or whatever language you
like, and someone might write a binding to call it from, say,
Pascal; and then a year down the road, you might change your
compiler (since I gather you don't bother with a well-defined
ABI, based on your not seeming to understand them) or change
the type of something in a record, and you don't tell the Pascal
person; now, they've got a program that will probably link
against your library, and may even work correctly _most of the
time_, but sometimes will just mysteriously crash.

Welcome to programming.  It's Hard(TM).

Your answer to that appears to be to simply give up on
abstraction; others work around it by writing tools (cf, `swig`
or `bindgen` for Rust).

>>> That signed char return is unusual; why not 'int'? (How would you even 
>>> print an 'err_t' value anyway)?
>> 
>> It seems that yet again, you need an explanation of fundamental points 
>> of software development.  Today's lesson is on "abstraction".
>
>OK. I've just looked at several graphics libraries. Those have chosen to 
>use predominantly standard C types for function return values. And 
>standard C types for numeric arguments.
>
>Sometimes they might be prefixed, eg. GL_int, SDL_bool, probably as 
>abstraction from the vagaries of standard C.
>
>It seems a trend to invent pointless extra types for everything. In C 
>itself, there are about 35 denotations for integer types, and that's 
>before you get into clock_t, time_t, offset_t and everything else.
>
>In general most boil down to one of i32 u32 i64 u64.

Judicious use of types can render entire categories of errors
unexpressible.  Alexis King wrote a wonderful post about this,
expressed using Haskell, but the general principles apply more
broadly.

https://lexi-lambda.github.io/blog/2019/11/05/parse-don-t-validate/

>So you can go over the top with abstraction.

Of course.  Part of becoming a true software engineer is
learning to find balance between too much abstraction and too
little.

>> Maybe on some targets (of this portable library), err_t is "signed 
>> char".
>
>Why not define it on top of 'int'? Is it likely that large numbers of 
>error codes are going to be stored within structs and arrays so that the 
>size must be minimal?

Because maybe on some platforms it's more efficient to keep it
in a `signed char`.  Who knows?  The point is you almost never
need to care.

>> It is also nice to know that it can be used in a switch, and cast to an 
>> int for printf.
>
>How would you know that? I thought it was abstract! Maybe err_t is a 
>small struct.

Because the documentation about it tells you that you can: "The
type `err_t` is used to represent errors.  It can be cast to
`int`."  Really, this is table-stakes software development.

>> Or look at the "ip_addr_t" type.  It happens, at the moment, to be a 
>> struct.  But it might have been a union.  The size and contents of the 
>> struct depend on details of how the library is built - whether it has 
>> support for ipv4, ipv6, or both.  Maybe a future version will also 
>> support ipv8, or ipv5 (I've heard some people are trying to make an IP 
>> protocol that covers more than IPv4, but without most of the 
>> complicating additional features of IPv6).  It is an abstract type - you 
>> use it without knowing the details.
>
>I haven't said much about that. It is a struct so some username is 
>needed. I renamed it to IP_addr in my example.

Huh?  Username?

>But I'm not sure it needs the _t suffix. (Is it a thing now for every 
>typedef name to need _t?)
>
>I notice however that the argument is a pointer: if ip_addr_t* values 
>are commonly passed around, I would put an abstraction around that.
>
>(However that's partly because how my language works is different; to 
>access a member of the struct, I don't need to know if the type of X is 
>an actual struct or is a pointer to one; I write X.addr in both cases.)

So does Rust.  You're welcome.

	- Dan C.

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#403424

Frombart <bc@freeuk.com>
Date2026-10-21 17:22 +0100
Message-ID<11baot1$3j98$1@dont-email.me>
In reply to#403423
On 21/10/2026 16:37, Dan Cross wrote:
> In article <11baiuc$11ac$1@dont-email.me>, bart  <bc@freeuk.com> wrote:
>> On 21/10/2026 12:21, David Brown wrote:
>>> On 21/10/2026 03:04, bart wrote:
>>>> Here, one problem is that there are 3 types that I don't know and
>>>> would have to look up.
>>>
>>> Incorrect.
>>
>> If I wanted to use function from a language that is not C and for which
>> nobody has yet created a set of bindings, then I would have to
>> investigate every single abstract type.
> 
> That is true of every programming language.

It's not clear what you mean by 'that'.

But typically APIs are primarily expressed as C headers. With mainstream 
languages, somebody else has usually already done that work.


>> Even then, I might find that a year later, 'err_t' has been defined to
>> be something slightly different. Standard types are easier to deal with
>> and more likely to be stable.
> 
> That is also true of every programming language.

Then it is also true that standard types will be more stable.

> You can write some library in BartM or whatever language you
> like, and someone might write a binding to call it from, say,
> Pascal; and then a year down the road, you might change your
> compiler (since I gather you don't bother with a well-defined
> ABI, based on your not seeming to understand them

You still don't get what an ABI is.

> Welcome to programming.  It's Hard(TM).

Some things could be easier. Someone produces library (eg. DLL binary).

That library exports a set of function names, but not a set of 
language-neutral function signatures. (And it will not export types, 
structs, enums etc needed to use the library.)

Why not do that? Just a DLL having the C header API embedded within it 
would be a start! You don't need to source them separately, and they 
will always match in version.

>> In general most boil down to one of i32 u32 i64 u64.

> Judicious use of types can render entire categories of errors
> unexpressible.  Alexis King wrote a wonderful post about this,
> expressed using Haskell, but the general principles apply more
> broadly.

If you want to use lots of abstraction then use a language with strict 
type systems that can back them up. Ada for example.

But it's not a language I'd want to use. You can go too far down that 
path (look at the Frink programming language).


>>> It is also nice to know that it can be used in a switch, and cast to an
>>> int for printf.
>>
>> How would you know that? I thought it was abstract! Maybe err_t is a
>> small struct.
> 
> Because the documentation about it tells you that you can: "The
> type `err_t` is used to represent errors.  It can be cast to
> `int`."  Really, this is table-stakes software development.

In this case it doesn't. It is an alias for 's8_t', which is itself an 
alias for 'int8_t' (which itself is probably an alias for 'signed char' 
within 'stdint.h'.

What it does say however is that, if you define a certain macro, you can 
make err_t' any type you like. I don't know how that would work here; I 
assume it still has to be a numeric type, but it is not stated.

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#403425

Fromscott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal)
Date2026-10-21 17:21 +0000
Message-ID<aw6CS.179415$PnNb.56673@fx12.iad>
In reply to#403424
bart <bc@freeuk.com> writes:
>On 21/10/2026 16:37, Dan Cross wrote:

>> You can write some library in BartM or whatever language you
>> like, and someone might write a binding to call it from, say,
>> Pascal; and then a year down the road, you might change your
>> compiler (since I gather you don't bother with a well-defined
>> ABI, based on your not seeming to understand 
>
>You still don't get what an ABI is.

Please, enlighten us.  Be specific.  What exactly
does the term ABI mean to you?

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#403426

Frombart <bc@freeuk.com>
Date2026-10-21 19:04 +0100
Message-ID<11baur1$63id$1@dont-email.me>
In reply to#403425
On 21/10/2026 18:21, Scott Lurndal wrote:
> bart <bc@freeuk.com> writes:
>> On 21/10/2026 16:37, Dan Cross wrote:
> 
>>> You can write some library in BartM or whatever language you
>>> like, and someone might write a binding to call it from, say,
>>> Pascal; and then a year down the road, you might change your
>>> compiler (since I gather you don't bother with a well-defined
>>> ABI, based on your not seeming to understand
>>
>> You still don't get what an ABI is.
> 
> Please, enlighten us.  Be specific.  What exactly
> does the term ABI mean to you?

It's what I have to deal with in a compiler back-end if I want to 
support an FFI in a language.

It's not the same problem as using that FFI to write a set of bindings 
corresponding with a particular API.

The latter problem needs to be solved even if there was no back-end and 
no ABI to deal with (eg. transpiling to another language, or lowering to 
some VM).

I don't why I'm bothering, since somebody will find another stick to 
beat me over the head with or to somehow try to catch me out, but here 
is an example of a function inside MSVCRT.DLL..

In the C API (ie. stdio.h) it will be expressed like this:

     int puts(const char*);

In my FFI and in my syntax, it is expressed like this:

     func puts       (ichar)i32

So, this is 'creating a binding'. This can be done manually for this 
one-off example. It's not perfect: on my platform, the C parameter has 
'ref i8' type, but mine is more like 'ref u8'.

At this point, the ABI doesn't come into it.

That becomes relevant within the backend for a particular target and 
platform.

So for this call:

    puts(s)

the ABI for x64 running Windows will tell me that 's' must be passed in 
rcx, the stack needs a shadow space, it needs to be 16-byte aligned, and 
the 32-bit result is placed in eax.

For ARM64 running Linux (SYS V), then 's' is passed in x0, and the 
result placed in w0. The stack will always properly aligned.

The only overlap in API/ABI may be to do with details of how structs may 
be laid out in memory. But generally, C APIs will just follow the C 
rules; I don't consider it an ABI thing. It would be something to deal 
with even if no ABI existed and no native code was generated.

For my purposes, ABI is about calling conventions. ABI references may 
cover a lot more (eg. for SYS V which likes to make everything as 
complicated as possible).

So, now tell me what I've got wrong.


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#403427

Fromcross@spitfire.i.gajendra.net (Dan Cross)
Date2026-10-21 18:38 +0000
Message-ID<11bb0rn$nbe$1@reader2.panix.com>
In reply to#403426
In article <11baur1$63id$1@dont-email.me>, bart  <bc@freeuk.com> wrote:
>On 21/10/2026 18:21, Scott Lurndal wrote:
>> bart <bc@freeuk.com> writes:
>>> On 21/10/2026 16:37, Dan Cross wrote:
>> 
>>>> You can write some library in BartM or whatever language you
>>>> like, and someone might write a binding to call it from, say,
>>>> Pascal; and then a year down the road, you might change your
>>>> compiler (since I gather you don't bother with a well-defined
>>>> ABI, based on your not seeming to understand
>>>
>>> You still don't get what an ABI is.
>> 
>> Please, enlighten us.  Be specific.  What exactly
>> does the term ABI mean to you?
>
>It's what I have to deal with in a compiler back-end if I want to 
>support an FFI in a language.
>
>It's not the same problem as using that FFI to write a set of bindings 
>corresponding with a particular API.
>
>The latter problem needs to be solved even if there was no back-end and 
>no ABI to deal with (eg. transpiling to another language, or lowering to 
>some VM).
>
>I don't why I'm bothering, since somebody will find another stick to 
>beat me over the head with or to somehow try to catch me out, but here 
>is an example of a function inside MSVCRT.DLL..
>
>In the C API (ie. stdio.h) it will be expressed like this:
>
>     int puts(const char*);
>
>In my FFI and in my syntax, it is expressed like this:
>
>     func puts       (ichar)i32
>
>So, this is 'creating a binding'. This can be done manually for this 
>one-off example. It's not perfect: on my platform, the C parameter has 
>'ref i8' type, but mine is more like 'ref u8'.
>
>At this point, the ABI doesn't come into it.
>
>That becomes relevant within the backend for a particular target and 
>platform.
>
>So for this call:
>
>    puts(s)
>
>the ABI for x64 running Windows will tell me that 's' must be passed in 
>rcx, the stack needs a shadow space, it needs to be 16-byte aligned, and 
>the 32-bit result is placed in eax.
>
>For ARM64 running Linux (SYS V), then 's' is passed in x0, and the 
>result placed in w0. The stack will always properly aligned.
>
>The only overlap in API/ABI may be to do with details of how structs may 
>be laid out in memory. But generally, C APIs will just follow the C 
>rules; I don't consider it an ABI thing. It would be something to deal 
>with even if no ABI existed and no native code was generated.
>
>For my purposes, ABI is about calling conventions. ABI references may 
>cover a lot more (eg. for SYS V which likes to make everything as 
>complicated as possible).
>
>So, now tell me what I've got wrong.

Wow.  You really, truly, have no idea how any of this works.  I
don't even know where to begin.  You just throw around words but
have no idea what they mean in context.

It's breathtaking, really.

	- Dan C.

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