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Re: A good subset of C

From "Rod Pemberton" <dont_use_email@xnothavet.cqm>
Newsgroups comp.lang.misc
Subject Re: A good subset of C
Date 2014-05-05 18:46 -0400
Organization Aioe.org NNTP Server
Message-ID <op.xfer8g1j6zenlw@localhost> (permalink)
References <lk7flm$m95$1@dont-email.me> <lk8qjv$ejd$1@dont-email.me>

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On Mon, 05 May 2014 15:59:26 -0400, James Harris  
<james.harris.1@gmail.com> wrote:

> Here's an attempt at this.
>
> * Separate compilation

?

If it can compile one file, then it can compile many ... (?)
I'd think this is, perhaps, a linking issue?

> * Pointers (this and the next two are good specifically
> in the context of C)

Yes.

> * Array and pointer similarities

Yes.

> * Zero-terminated strings, char data type

Oops, did I forget to mention nul-terminated strings?

> * Simple memory model

Allocated memory blocks, e.g., malloc, declarations of objects, etc
must be contiguous, i.e., not split.  C can't handle a disjointed
memory, i.e., implies paging might be useful to reorganize memory.

> * Signed and unsigned integers (some languages only permit signed)

(I'd disagree on the signed.)

> * Being able to choose integers of explicit sizes, e.g. uint16_t

You only need two. (8-bits char, something bigger)

> * Enumerated integers

Why?  Enums are one of the least used aspects of C, IMO.

> * Structs

Yes.

No typedefs?  They don't allocate space.  I.e., good for overlaying
data structures onto "arrays" of char, e.g., databases, records,
filesystems, struct nodes in a linked list, etc.

> * Loops (for, do)

Yes.

> * Sequential selection (if, else)

Yes.

> * Top selection (switch, case, default) but not automatic fall through

Ok.

> * Support for variadic functions

Why?  Support a maximum of six parameters to start.  If you're using
more than three per function, you're doing something wrong anyway, IMO.

> * Choice of where to place variables: stack, block, module

Why?

(That kind of defeats the purpose of C.  Use Forth for that.)

> * Escape codes: \n, \t etc and \"

Ok.

> * Hex number entry such as 0x101

Ok.

> * ++ and -- operators

What? No other operators? No assignment?

What about logical and bitwise operations?  && !!  ~ | & ^

> Any thoughts on how complete that list is?

See above for my perspective, otherwise, it's decent.

> I don't know about you but I think of C as a difficult language
> to compile and wouldn't want to have to write a full C
> preprocessor and compiler.

...

> By the way, I noticed that in a list of essential parts of C no
> one mentioned bit fields. :-)

Well, years ago, they warned that using bit-fields on some C compilers
were broken, or perhaps they had endian issues or somesuch.  So, the
"C way" became #define masks and logical-and, e.g.,

#define FLAG1 0x01
#define FLAG2 0x02
#define FLAG3 0x04
#define FLAG4 0x08

if(value&FLAG4) {
...

If bit-fields worked, that would be the perfect place to use them.

You do recognize C code like that, yes?  I sure hope so...  :-)

You might check a C style guide or perhaps Steve Summit's FAQ to
find an answer as to why bit fields are avoided in C.  I'm sure
it's out there somewhere, and it's probably what I stated above,
but I'm not looking for it today.


Rod Pemberton

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Thread

A good subset of C "James Harris" <james.harris.1@gmail.com> - 2014-05-05 08:47 +0100
  Re: A good subset of C "BartC" <bc@freeuk.com> - 2014-05-05 10:56 +0100
    Re: A good subset of C "James Harris" <james.harris.1@gmail.com> - 2014-05-05 19:41 +0100
      Re: A good subset of C "BartC" <bc@freeuk.com> - 2014-05-05 21:08 +0100
        Re: A good subset of C "James Harris" <james.harris.1@gmail.com> - 2014-05-05 21:58 +0100
          Re: A good subset of C "BartC" <bc@freeuk.com> - 2014-05-05 22:55 +0100
            Re: A good subset of C "James Harris" <james.harris.1@gmail.com> - 2014-05-06 00:01 +0100
              Re: A good subset of C "BartC" <bc@freeuk.com> - 2014-05-06 00:44 +0100
          Re: A good subset of C "BartC" <bc@freeuk.com> - 2014-05-06 09:45 +0100
  Re: A good subset of C "Rod Pemberton" <dont_use_email@xnothavet.cqm> - 2014-05-05 07:33 -0400
    Re: A good subset of C "BartC" <bc@freeuk.com> - 2014-05-05 19:14 +0100
    Re: A good subset of C "James Harris" <james.harris.1@gmail.com> - 2014-05-05 20:12 +0100
      Re: A good subset of C "Rod Pemberton" <dont_use_email@xnothavet.cqm> - 2014-05-05 18:57 -0400
        Re: A good subset of C "James Harris" <james.harris.1@gmail.com> - 2014-05-07 11:55 +0100
          Re: A good subset of C "Rod Pemberton" <dont_use_email@xnothavet.cqm> - 2014-05-07 19:04 -0400
            Re: A good subset of C "James Harris" <james.harris.1@gmail.com> - 2014-05-08 10:14 +0100
              Re: A good subset of C "Rod Pemberton" <dont_use_email@xnothavet.cqm> - 2014-05-08 07:35 -0400
                Re: A good subset of C "James Harris" <james.harris.1@gmail.com> - 2014-05-08 16:22 +0100
                Re: A good subset of C "Rod Pemberton" <dont_use_email@xnothavet.cqm> - 2014-05-09 16:45 -0400
                Re: A good subset of C "Dmitry A. Kazakov" <mailbox@dmitry-kazakov.de> - 2014-05-10 09:04 +0200
                Re: A good subset of C "Rod Pemberton" <dont_use_email@xnothavet.cqm> - 2014-05-10 16:30 -0400
                Re: A good subset of C "Dmitry A. Kazakov" <mailbox@dmitry-kazakov.de> - 2014-05-11 11:59 +0200
                Re: A good subset of C "Rod Pemberton" <dont_use_email@xnothavet.cqm> - 2014-05-11 11:06 -0400
                Re: A good subset of C Kaz Kylheku <kaz@kylheku.com> - 2014-05-12 00:26 +0000
                Re: A good subset of C "Dmitry A. Kazakov" <mailbox@dmitry-kazakov.de> - 2014-05-12 09:54 +0200
                Re: A good subset of C "Rod Pemberton" <dont_use_email@xnothavet.cqm> - 2014-05-12 20:01 -0400
                Re: A good subset of C "James Harris" <james.harris.1@gmail.com> - 2014-05-14 17:45 +0100
                Re: A good subset of C "Rod Pemberton" <dont_use_email@xnothavet.cqm> - 2014-05-14 18:11 -0400
                Re: A good subset of C "James Harris" <james.harris.1@gmail.com> - 2014-05-14 23:54 +0100
                Re: A good subset of C "Rod Pemberton" <dont_use_email@xnothavet.cqm> - 2014-05-14 19:43 -0400
                Re: A good subset of C "James Harris" <james.harris.1@gmail.com> - 2014-05-17 18:00 +0100
                Re: A good subset of C "Rod Pemberton" <dont_use_email@xnothavet.cqm> - 2014-05-17 16:00 -0400
                Re: A good subset of C "James Harris" <james.harris.1@gmail.com> - 2014-05-17 22:17 +0100
                Re: A good subset of C "Rod Pemberton" <dont_use_email@xnothavet.cqm> - 2014-05-17 19:58 -0400
                Re: A good subset of C "James Harris" <james.harris.1@gmail.com> - 2014-05-18 07:59 +0100
                Re: A good subset of C "Rod Pemberton" <dont_use_email@xnothavet.cqm> - 2014-05-18 13:10 -0400
                Re: A good subset of C "James Harris" <james.harris.1@gmail.com> - 2014-05-19 00:54 +0100
                Re: A good subset of C Andy Walker <news@cuboid.co.uk> - 2014-05-15 01:31 +0100
                Re: A good subset of C BGB <cr88192@hotmail.com> - 2014-05-14 23:43 -0500
                Re: A good subset of C "James Harris" <james.harris.1@gmail.com> - 2014-05-17 18:38 +0100
                Re: A good subset of C Ian Collins <ian-news@hotmail.com> - 2014-05-25 11:04 +1200
                Re: A good subset of C "Rod Pemberton" <dont_use_email@xnothavet.cqm> - 2014-05-24 20:36 -0400
                Re: A good subset of C Ian Collins <ian-news@hotmail.com> - 2014-05-25 12:53 +1200
                Re: A good subset of C "Rod Pemberton" <dont_use_email@xnothavet.cqm> - 2014-05-24 21:34 -0400
                Re: A good subset of C Ian Collins <ian-news@hotmail.com> - 2014-05-25 14:11 +1200
                Re: A good subset of C Kaz Kylheku <kaz@kylheku.com> - 2014-05-25 06:47 +0000
                Re: A good subset of C Kaz Kylheku <kaz@kylheku.com> - 2014-05-25 06:43 +0000
  Re: A good subset of C "James Harris" <james.harris.1@gmail.com> - 2014-05-05 20:59 +0100
    Re: A good subset of C "BartC" <bc@freeuk.com> - 2014-05-05 22:28 +0100
      Re: A good subset of C "Rod Pemberton" <dont_use_email@xnothavet.cqm> - 2014-05-05 18:57 -0400
        Re: A good subset of C "BartC" <bc@freeuk.com> - 2014-05-06 00:26 +0100
      Re: A good subset of C George Neuner <gneuner2@comcast.net> - 2014-05-06 14:21 -0400
        Re: A good subset of C "James Harris" <james.harris.1@gmail.com> - 2014-05-07 15:43 +0100
          Re: A good subset of C George Neuner <gneuner2@comcast.net> - 2014-05-07 16:03 -0400
            Re: A good subset of C "BartC" <bc@freeuk.com> - 2014-05-07 21:31 +0100
          Re: A good subset of C BGB <cr88192@hotmail.com> - 2014-05-07 15:41 -0500
    Re: A good subset of C "Rod Pemberton" <dont_use_email@xnothavet.cqm> - 2014-05-05 18:46 -0400
      Re: A good subset of C "James Harris" <james.harris.1@gmail.com> - 2014-05-06 00:42 +0100
        Re: A good subset of C "Rod Pemberton" <dont_use_email@xnothavet.cqm> - 2014-05-06 06:48 -0400
          Re: A good subset of C "James Harris" <james.harris.1@gmail.com> - 2014-05-07 15:40 +0100
            Re: A good subset of C "Rod Pemberton" <dont_use_email@xnothavet.cqm> - 2014-05-08 06:50 -0400
              Re: A good subset of C "James Harris" <james.harris.1@gmail.com> - 2014-05-08 15:43 +0100
                Re: A good subset of C George Neuner <gneuner2@comcast.net> - 2014-05-08 14:41 -0400
  Re: A good subset of C BGB <cr88192@hotmail.com> - 2014-05-05 19:08 -0500

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