Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c

From	David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no>
Newsgroups	comp.lang.c
Subject	Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c
Date	2026-09-30 13:55 +0200
Organization	A noiseless patient Spider
Message-ID	<119itbu$61gc$1@dont-email.me> (permalink)
References	(7 earlier) <119dkku$27s5h$1@dont-email.me> <119dqk0$2cj9m$1@dont-email.me> <119dsk4$27s5h$3@dont-email.me> <119fns9$1uuce$3@dont-email.me> <20260930140948.00004500@yahoo.com>

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On 30/09/2026 13:09, Michael S wrote:
> On Tue, 29 Sep 2026 09:03:37 +0200
> Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> wrote:
> 
>> On 2026-09-28 16:12, David Brown wrote:
>>> On 28/09/2026 15:38, bart wrote:
>>>>
>>>> - Always available without needing those annoying #includes (and is
>>>>     it math.h or float.h? I can never remember).
>>>
>>> Other C programmers manage that without effort.
>>
>> I seem to recall that on his platform there's no man-pages.
>> (Or that he, maybe, dislikes looking into the documentation?
>> Sometime he gives that impression.)
>>
>>>    
>>>> (Funny how shadowing or overriding is usually perceived as bad,
>>>> until you want to shadow something like 'sin' then it's a
>>>> must-have!)
>>
>> Since when is shadowing (or "overriding" in its various forms)
>> "perceived as bad"?
> 
> There exist coding standard/style guides that prohibit it. Not just
> MISRA, which I hold at low regard, but some well-thought guids too.
> There are popular compilers that warn about it.
> 
>> - I've always seen it as a useful feature.
>> And never heard anyone complaining about it.
> 
> It just means that you didn't get out much.
> 

Poorly considered or unintentional shadowing can certainly lead to bugs 
or programmer confusion.

Equally, however, it is an essential feature to long-term programming. 
Otherwise you have to make sure you pick names for all your local 
identifiers that could never be included in any of the headers 
(application, third-party library, standard library, whatever) used by 
your code.  That means avoiding any names that might be used in /future/ 
versions of these headers, or in headers from other platforms or toolchains.

Clearly that is infeasible - it would place unreasonable restraints on 
how you could write your own code, and unreasonable restraints on how 
libraries and other code could write their headers.

Just as clearly, you should not knowingly shadow an existing name unless 
that's the choice that is clearest in the code.

Long ago, I used "-Wshadow" in gcc but stopped due to too many false 
positives.  (Many <math.h> libraries include Bessel functions like "y0" 
and "y1" when not used in strict standards modes, though these are 
popular identifiers for local variables or parameters.)  Current gcc has 
more nuanced versions like "-Wshadow=local" and 
"-Wshadow=compatible-local" which are often a better choice.

Thread

official library of tiny functions lacking in c fir <profesor.fir@gmail.com> - 2026-09-27 10:20 +0200
  Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c fir <profesor.fir@gmail.com> - 2026-09-27 20:04 +0200
    Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-09-27 21:38 +0100
      Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c fir <profesor.fir@gmail.com> - 2026-09-27 23:16 +0200
        Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-09-28 00:53 +0100
          Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c fir <profesor.fir@gmail.com> - 2026-09-28 04:31 +0200
          Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-09-28 10:25 +0200
            Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-09-28 11:45 +0100
              Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-09-28 13:56 +0200
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-09-28 14:38 +0100
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-09-28 16:12 +0200
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-09-28 16:52 +0100
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-09-28 18:49 +0200
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-09-28 20:26 +0100
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-09-29 09:45 +0200
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-09-29 12:54 +0100
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-09-29 15:56 +0200
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-09-29 18:15 +0100
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-09-29 20:24 +0200
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2026-09-29 19:41 +0000
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c cross@spitfire.i.gajendra.net (Dan Cross) - 2026-09-29 21:37 +0000
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-09-30 01:33 +0100
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-09-30 09:28 +0200
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2026-09-30 13:41 +0300
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2026-10-01 07:25 -0700
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2026-10-01 17:50 +0300
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2026-10-01 09:37 -0700
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-09-30 01:19 +0100
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-09-30 09:44 +0200
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-09-29 16:01 +0200
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c "Chris M. Thomasson" <chris.m.thomasson.1@gmail.com> - 2026-09-30 01:00 -0700
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-09-30 13:01 +0200
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-10-01 08:52 +0000
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-09-30 01:56 +0000
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2026-10-01 07:15 -0700
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-09-29 09:28 +0200
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-09-29 07:10 +0000
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c "Chris M. Thomasson" <chris.m.thomasson.1@gmail.com> - 2026-09-28 15:30 -0700
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-09-29 09:03 +0200
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-09-29 11:11 +0100
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2026-09-29 14:38 +0000
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-09-30 07:02 +0200
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-09-30 11:35 +0100
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-09-30 14:14 +0200
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-09-30 13:45 +0100
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-09-30 15:30 +0200
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2026-09-30 17:14 +0300
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-09-30 16:42 +0200
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2026-09-30 18:02 +0300
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-09-30 16:54 +0100
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-09-30 18:26 +0200
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-09-30 22:12 +0100
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-10-01 09:44 +0200
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-01 10:42 +0100
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2026-10-01 13:50 +0300
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-10-01 12:29 +0100
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-10-02 09:35 +0200
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2026-10-02 04:03 -0700
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-10-02 13:50 +0200
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2026-10-02 11:22 -0700
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c gazelle@shell.xmission.com (Kenny McCormack) - 2026-10-02 18:33 +0000
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2026-10-03 14:30 +0000
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2026-10-03 16:37 -0700
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-10-01 13:29 +0200
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2026-10-01 14:46 +0000
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c "Chris M. Thomasson" <chris.m.thomasson.1@gmail.com> - 2026-10-01 15:37 -0700
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-10-02 08:57 +0200
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c "Chris M. Thomasson" <chris.m.thomasson.1@gmail.com> - 2026-10-02 00:37 -0700
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-09-30 17:12 +0100
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2026-09-30 14:09 +0300
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-09-30 13:55 +0200
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-09-30 14:31 +0200
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2026-09-30 16:12 +0300
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-09-30 19:33 +0200
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2026-09-30 18:14 +0000
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c James Kuyper <jameskuyper@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2026-10-01 08:34 -0400
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-09-29 07:08 +0000
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-09-29 15:02 +0100
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2026-09-29 14:43 +0000
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-09-29 16:07 +0100
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-09-29 22:58 +0000
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-09-30 00:13 +0100
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-09-30 07:13 +0000
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c Johann 'Myrkraverk' Oskarsson <johann@myrkraverk.invalid> - 2026-10-01 02:41 +0800
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2026-09-30 14:15 +0300
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2026-09-30 14:18 +0300
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-09-30 13:24 +0100
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-09-30 14:45 +0200
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2026-09-30 15:56 +0300
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-09-30 22:31 +0000
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c Michael S <already5chosen@yahoo.com> - 2026-09-30 14:32 +0300
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c fir <profesor.fir@gmail.com> - 2026-09-28 17:22 +0200
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2026-09-28 17:24 -0700
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-09-29 09:54 +0200
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c "Chris M. Thomasson" <chris.m.thomasson.1@gmail.com> - 2026-09-29 16:48 -0700
              Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-09-28 14:16 +0200
              Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c James Kuyper <jameskuyper@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2026-09-28 11:15 -0400
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-09-28 16:40 +0100
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c "Chris M. Thomasson" <chris.m.thomasson.1@gmail.com> - 2026-09-29 16:50 -0700
              Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-09-29 06:38 +0000
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-09-29 14:36 +0100
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-09-29 22:49 +0000
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-09-29 23:59 +0100
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c "Chris M. Thomasson" <chris.m.thomasson.1@gmail.com> - 2026-09-29 16:51 -0700
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-09-30 01:54 +0000
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c James Kuyper <jameskuyper@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2026-09-29 22:09 -0400
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-09-30 10:52 +0100
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2026-09-30 12:38 +0200
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-10-01 08:49 +0000
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c James Kuyper <jameskuyper@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2026-10-01 08:48 -0400
    Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-09-28 06:45 +0000
      Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c fir <profesor.fir@gmail.com> - 2026-09-28 12:42 +0200
        Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-09-29 00:58 +0000
          Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c fir <profesor.fir@gmail.com> - 2026-09-29 03:02 +0200
            Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-09-29 03:16 +0000
              Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c fir <profesor.fir@gmail.com> - 2026-09-29 14:20 +0200
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c Paul <nospam@needed.invalid> - 2026-09-29 12:39 -0400
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-09-29 22:50 +0000
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c fir <profesor.fir@gmail.com> - 2026-09-30 02:57 +0200
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-09-30 02:00 +0000
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c fir <profesor.fir@gmail.com> - 2026-09-30 10:08 +0200
                Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c fir <profesor.fir@gmail.com> - 2026-09-30 13:58 +0200
      Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2026-09-28 11:43 +0100
        Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-09-29 01:00 +0000
        Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-09-30 07:59 +0200
      Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c James Kuyper <jameskuyper@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2026-09-28 11:03 -0400
    Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c NOTE fir <profesor.fir@gmail.com> - 2026-09-28 17:50 +0200
    Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c "Chris M. Thomasson" <chris.m.thomasson.1@gmail.com> - 2026-09-30 12:42 -0700
  Re: official library of tiny functions lacking in c tTh <tth@none.invalid> - 2026-09-28 00:02 +0200

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