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Re: [QT creator on "nix"] - getting a strict 8 bit (1 byte) array with no padding

Newsgroups comp.lang.c++
Date 2019-11-20 17:44 -0800
References <qr4275$hk3$1@dont-email.me> <slrnqtb59a.2ntj.grahn+nntp@frailea.sa.invalid> <qr4jnj$oaj$1@dont-email.me>
Message-ID <2be1aa75-321b-4777-bd95-461e9252fbf0@googlegroups.com> (permalink)
Subject Re: [QT creator on "nix"] - getting a strict 8 bit (1 byte) array with no padding
From James Kuyper <jameskuyper@alumni.caltech.edu>

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On Wednesday, November 20, 2019 at 6:54:39 PM UTC-5, Soviet_Mario wrote:
> Il 20/11/19 20:34, Jorgen Grahn ha scritto:
> > On Wed, 2019-11-20, Soviet_Mario wrote:
...
> >> I would not want to include many QT features for now
> >> so, what is the STANDARD C++ way to get
> >> unsigned 8 bits integer type ?
> > 
> > uint8_t, just like in C.  Or, I guess it's really std::uint8_t.
> 
> I opened the headers, i.g. sys/types.h and stdint.h
> and they finally stem from a typedef that turns out to be a 
> "delusional" unsigned char.
> I write delusional as I still do not have found a strict 
> warranty that a char is really 8 bit wide

You won't find it, because there is no such warranty in general. The
minimum value for CHAR_BIT is quite explicitly 8, but there is no
maximum, and it's certainly not required to be 8. Values other than 8
are rare, but not unheard of.

However, any conforming implementation of C++ for which <cstdint>
contains a typedef of uint8_t as unsigned char IS guaranteed to be one
for which unsigned char is an 8 bit type. That's not because of anything
the standard says directly about unsigned char; it's because it's not
permitted to for uint8_t to be a typedef for a type that isn't exactly 8
bits. The relevant guarantee is in the C standard, and incorporated into
the C++ standard by reference, but it is still a guarantee.

If CHAR_BIT != 8, or #ifndef UINT8_MAX, then there will be no way to
declare an 8-bit type for that implementation (except for bit-fields,
and you can't make arrays of bit-fields).

The key question the OP needs to ask himself is "What do I want my
program to do when compiled on a platform where there is no way to
declare an 8-bit type?". There's many options: failing to compile with
an explicit error message is one possibility. Depending upon what he
actually needs to do, uint_least8_t might be an acceptable alternative,
though I doubt it.

...
> >> long ago CHAR was 8 bit wide, but now it seems to be
> >> platform dependent, and more often "a word" wide.
> > 
> > No; a char is rarely more than 8 bits nowadays.  You may be thinking
> > of wchar_t, but that's something different.
> 
> ok, note taken. But is it a warranty or a very common guess ?

It's very common, not guaranteed, and there's no need to guess about it.
Just check the value of CHAR_BIT.

...
> Now I'm exploring the solution with a struct containing only 
> a 8 bit field, and the #pragma pack.

On a platform where CHAR_BIT==8, unsigned char will work. On a platform
where CHAR_BIT != 8, that approach won't work, nor will any other.

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Thread

[QT creator on "nix"] - getting a strict 8 bit (1 byte) array with no padding Soviet_Mario <SovietMario@CCCP.MIR> - 2019-11-20 19:55 +0100
  Re: [QT creator on "nix"] - getting a strict 8 bit (1 byte) array with no padding Soviet_Mario <SovietMario@CCCP.MIR> - 2019-11-20 20:12 +0100
    Re: [QT creator on "nix"] - getting a strict 8 bit (1 byte) array with no padding Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2019-11-20 22:33 -0800
  Re: [QT creator on "nix"] - getting a strict 8 bit (1 byte) array with no padding Soviet_Mario <SovietMario@CCCP.MIR> - 2019-11-20 20:22 +0100
  Re: [QT creator on "nix"] - getting a strict 8 bit (1 byte) array with no padding Jorgen Grahn <grahn+nntp@snipabacken.se> - 2019-11-20 19:34 +0000
    Re: [QT creator on "nix"] - getting a strict 8 bit (1 byte) array with no padding Soviet_Mario <SovietMario@CCCP.MIR> - 2019-11-21 00:54 +0100
      Re: [QT creator on "nix"] - getting a strict 8 bit (1 byte) array with no padding Öö Tiib <ootiib@hot.ee> - 2019-11-20 16:27 -0800
      Re: [QT creator on "nix"] - getting a strict 8 bit (1 byte) array with no padding Manfred <invalid@add.invalid> - 2019-11-21 01:48 +0100
        Re: [QT creator on "nix"] - getting a strict 8 bit (1 byte) array with no padding Soviet_Mario <SovietMario@CCCP.MIR> - 2019-11-21 04:09 +0100
      Re: [QT creator on "nix"] - getting a strict 8 bit (1 byte) array with no padding James Kuyper <jameskuyper@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2019-11-20 17:44 -0800
        Re: [QT creator on "nix"] - getting a strict 8 bit (1 byte) array with no padding Soviet_Mario <SovietMario@CCCP.MIR> - 2019-11-21 04:14 +0100
  Re: [QT creator on "nix"] - getting a strict 8 bit (1 byte) array with no padding David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2019-11-20 22:03 +0100
    Re: [QT creator on "nix"] - getting a strict 8 bit (1 byte) array with no padding Soviet_Mario <SovietMario@CCCP.MIR> - 2019-11-21 01:00 +0100
      Re: [QT creator on "nix"] - getting a strict 8 bit (1 byte) array with no padding David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2019-11-21 13:22 +0100
        Re: [QT creator on "nix"] - getting a strict 8 bit (1 byte) array with no padding Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2019-11-21 11:30 -0800
          Re: [QT creator on "nix"] - getting a strict 8 bit (1 byte) array with no padding David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2019-11-21 22:54 +0100
  Re: [QT creator on "nix"] - getting a strict 8 bit (1 byte) array with no padding Paavo Helde <myfirstname@osa.pri.ee> - 2019-11-20 23:28 +0200
  Re: [QT creator on "nix"] - getting a strict 8 bit (1 byte) array with no padding James Kuyper <jameskuyper@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2019-11-20 15:48 -0800
  Re: [QT creator on "nix"] - getting a strict 8 bit (1 byte) array with no padding Reinhardt Behm <rbehm@hushmail.com> - 2019-11-21 10:33 +0800
    Re: [QT creator on "nix"] - getting a strict 8 bit (1 byte) array with no padding David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2019-11-21 13:25 +0100
  Re: [QT creator on "nix"] - getting a strict 8 bit (1 byte) array with no padding Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2019-11-20 22:32 -0800
    Re: [QT creator on "nix"] - getting a strict 8 bit (1 byte) array with no padding Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2019-11-20 22:43 -0800
      Re: [QT creator on "nix"] - getting a strict 8 bit (1 byte) array with no padding Soviet_Mario <SovietMario@CCCP.MIR> - 2019-11-21 12:53 +0100
        Re: [QT creator on "nix"] - getting a strict 8 bit (1 byte) array with no padding Paavo Helde <myfirstname@osa.pri.ee> - 2019-11-21 18:20 +0200
          Re: [QT creator on "nix"] - getting a strict 8 bit (1 byte) array with no padding Soviet_Mario <SovietMario@CCCP.MIR> - 2019-11-21 18:07 +0100
          Re: [QT creator on "nix"] - getting a strict 8 bit (1 byte) array with no padding Mr Flibble <flibbleREMOVETHISBIT@i42.co.uk> - 2019-11-21 17:34 +0000
          Re: [QT creator on "nix"] - getting a strict 8 bit (1 byte) array with no padding Christian Gollwitzer <auriocus@gmx.de> - 2019-11-22 07:26 +0100
            Re: [QT creator on "nix"] - getting a strict 8 bit (1 byte) array with no padding Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2019-11-22 00:37 -0800
              Re: [QT creator on "nix"] - getting a strict 8 bit (1 byte) array with no padding David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2019-11-22 10:10 +0100
                Re: [QT creator on "nix"] - getting a strict 8 bit (1 byte) array with no padding Öö Tiib <ootiib@hot.ee> - 2019-11-22 02:23 -0800
                Re: [QT creator on "nix"] - getting a strict 8 bit (1 byte) array with no padding David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2019-11-22 12:38 +0100
                Re: [QT creator on "nix"] - getting a strict 8 bit (1 byte) array with no padding Manfred <noname@add.invalid> - 2019-11-22 17:13 +0100
                Re: [QT creator on "nix"] - getting a strict 8 bit (1 byte) array with no padding David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2019-11-22 18:48 +0100
                Re: [QT creator on "nix"] - getting a strict 8 bit (1 byte) array with no padding James Kuyper <jameskuyper@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2019-11-22 10:49 -0500
                Re: [QT creator on "nix"] - getting a strict 8 bit (1 byte) array with no padding James Kuyper <jameskuyper@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2019-11-22 10:52 -0500
                Re: [QT creator on "nix"] - getting a strict 8 bit (1 byte) array with no padding Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2019-11-28 12:51 -0800
              Re: [QT creator on "nix"] - getting a strict 8 bit (1 byte) array with no padding Soviet_Mario <SovietMario@CCCP.MIR> - 2019-11-22 11:20 +0100
                Re: [QT creator on "nix"] - getting a strict 8 bit (1 byte) array with no padding Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2019-11-22 10:00 -0800
            Re: [QT creator on "nix"] - getting a strict 8 bit (1 byte) array with no padding David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2019-11-22 09:37 +0100
              Re: [QT creator on "nix"] - getting a strict 8 bit (1 byte) array with no padding Öö Tiib <ootiib@hot.ee> - 2019-11-22 01:37 -0800
                Re: [QT creator on "nix"] - getting a strict 8 bit (1 byte) array with no padding David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2019-11-22 11:40 +0100
                Re: [QT creator on "nix"] - getting a strict 8 bit (1 byte) array with no padding Öö Tiib <ootiib@hot.ee> - 2019-11-22 04:55 -0800
                Re: [QT creator on "nix"] - getting a strict 8 bit (1 byte) array with no padding David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2019-11-22 15:18 +0100
                Re: [QT creator on "nix"] - getting a strict 8 bit (1 byte) array with no padding Öö Tiib <ootiib@hot.ee> - 2019-11-22 07:23 -0800
                Re: [QT creator on "nix"] - getting a strict 8 bit (1 byte) array with no padding David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2019-11-22 16:34 +0100
                Re: [QT creator on "nix"] - getting a strict 8 bit (1 byte) array with no padding scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2019-11-22 15:16 +0000
                Re: [QT creator on "nix"] - getting a strict 8 bit (1 byte) array with no padding Öö Tiib <ootiib@hot.ee> - 2019-11-23 05:11 -0800
                Re: [QT creator on "nix"] - getting a strict 8 bit (1 byte) array with no padding James Kuyper <jameskuyper@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2019-11-22 10:56 -0500
                Re: [QT creator on "nix"] - getting a strict 8 bit (1 byte) array with no padding Öö Tiib <ootiib@hot.ee> - 2019-11-23 07:03 -0800
              Re: [QT creator on "nix"] - getting a strict 8 bit (1 byte) array with no padding Soviet_Mario <SovietMario@CCCP.MIR> - 2019-11-22 11:31 +0100
                Re: [QT creator on "nix"] - getting a strict 8 bit (1 byte) array with no padding David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2019-11-22 12:23 +0100
                Re: [QT creator on "nix"] - getting a strict 8 bit (1 byte) array with no padding Soviet_Mario <SovietMario@CCCP.MIR> - 2019-11-22 13:14 +0100
                Re: [QT creator on "nix"] - getting a strict 8 bit (1 byte) array with no padding David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2019-11-22 15:04 +0100
                Re: [QT creator on "nix"] - getting a strict 8 bit (1 byte) array with no padding Soviet_Mario <SovietMario@CCCP.MIR> - 2019-11-22 19:35 +0100
                Re: [QT creator on "nix"] - getting a strict 8 bit (1 byte) array with no padding James Kuyper <jameskuyper@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2019-11-22 14:11 -0500
                Re: [QT creator on "nix"] - getting a strict 8 bit (1 byte) array with no padding Soviet_Mario <SovietMario@CCCP.MIR> - 2019-11-23 00:25 +0100
                Re: [QT creator on "nix"] - getting a strict 8 bit (1 byte) array with no padding James Kuyper <jameskuyper@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2019-11-22 23:56 -0500
                Re: [QT creator on "nix"] - getting a strict 8 bit (1 byte) array with no padding Soviet_Mario <SovietMario@CCCP.MIR> - 2019-11-23 11:12 +0100
                Re: [QT creator on "nix"] - getting a strict 8 bit (1 byte) array with no padding Paavo Helde <myfirstname@osa.pri.ee> - 2019-11-23 14:51 +0200
                Re: [QT creator on "nix"] - getting a strict 8 bit (1 byte) array with no padding James Kuyper <jameskuyper@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2019-11-25 11:45 -0500
                Re: [QT creator on "nix"] - getting a strict 8 bit (1 byte) array with no padding Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2019-11-22 22:04 -0800
                Re: [QT creator on "nix"] - getting a strict 8 bit (1 byte) array with no padding Soviet_Mario <SovietMario@CCCP.MIR> - 2019-11-23 11:26 +0100
                Re: [QT creator on "nix"] - getting a strict 8 bit (1 byte) array with no padding Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2019-11-23 12:27 -0800
                Re: [QT creator on "nix"] - getting a strict 8 bit (1 byte) array with no padding Soviet_Mario <SovietMario@CCCP.MIR> - 2019-11-24 00:54 +0100
                Re: [QT creator on "nix"] - getting a strict 8 bit (1 byte) array with no padding Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2019-11-23 17:06 -0800
                Re: [QT creator on "nix"] - getting a strict 8 bit (1 byte) array with no padding Soviet_Mario <SovietMario@CCCP.MIR> - 2019-11-24 12:10 +0100
  Re: [QT creator on "nix"] - getting a strict 8 bit (1 byte) array with no padding Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2019-11-28 13:21 -0800

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