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Groups > comp.lang.c > #4667

Re: Types in C

From Uncle Steve <stevet810@gmail.com>
Newsgroups comp.lang.c
Subject Re: Types in C
Date 2011-05-24 00:24 -0400
Organization Friends of the Galactic Collective
Message-ID <44ec339c84ce72a-9f787@gmail.com> (permalink)
References (5 earlier) <slrnitlmem.13do.usenet-nospam@guild.seebs.net> <aa0d3dd810992cb-f68f6@gmail.com> <slrnitlsvd.19ga.usenet-nospam@guild.seebs.net> <5936f04f8e60065-d6df3@gmail.com> <slrnitm8vt.1ldu.usenet-nospam@guild.seebs.net>

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On Tue, May 24, 2011 at 03:46:54AM +0000, Seebs wrote:
> On 2011-05-24, Uncle Steve <stevet810@gmail.com> wrote:
> > Absolutely correct, but I think it may be an error to use the word
> > "type" to mean several different things:  'basic' types,
> > aggregates of basic types, enumerated types, unions, structures, and
> > function definitions.  All these things have wildly different
> > semantics and varying syntax.  They aren't all interchangable, and
> > therefore are differing entities.  We say 'type', but the definition
> > changes depending on what we are discussing.
> 
> No, it doesn't.  The word "type" denotes the category into which all
> of those things fit.
> 
> It's like "number".  The word "number" includes rationals and irrationals
> and complexes and counting numbers... so what?  It's a good word because
> it lets us characterize the stuff they have in common.

Until we trip over the hidden differences.
 
> All the "types" have things in common in terms of their meaning to the
> C type system.

True.  It's all about variables and differentiating them from each
other.  
 
> > I have no real argument there except to say that an aggregate type is
> > not the same thing as a basic type,
> 
> That's right.
> 
> > even if the way they are used in a
> > program can be similar.  For instance, everyone knows that the address
> > of an integer, float, structure, or function can be taken.  Yet, I
> > cannot perform addition on functions.  They are different things.
> 
> Right.  That is because function pointer types are not object pointer types.
> 
> But function types and object types still have underlying commonalities.
> It is useful to refer to those commonalities in some way; we use the word
> "type".

Yes, I noticed that.

> > Again, there is a huge qualitative difference between defining a new
> > integer type and a structure type.  
> 
> Sure.
> 
> But they are differences *within* the concept of "defining a type".

True, however the bare 'type' nomenclature conceals the differences,
which are perhaps only of non-trivial interest to compiler-writers.
 
> >> As pointed out:  gmp is part of the bootstrap process for gcc.  It compiles
> >> on pretty old stuff, by necessity.
> 
> > Which version of gmp does gcc use these days to support those old
> > platforms?
> 
> gcc 4.4 requires GMP 4.1+ and MPFR 2.3.2+.
> 
> Just to clarify:  My day job is toolchain tech lead.  The actual hard
> compiler stuff is outsourced to Code Sourcery (who are awesome), but I do
> maintain a certain basic familiarity with compiler build stuff.  Long
> story short, the core tools like this are only relatively recently (I
> think it's a gcc 4 decision) willing to assume that they have access to a
> compiler which supports prototypes.

So gcc 3 and earlier will compile stage one on such a compiler?  That
is scary.  I think I saw one of those compilers back in the beginning
of the nineties on the Amiga: Dice, Manx or Lattice C; I no longer
recall the details.  Never did much programming back then, and anyways
the code I wrote is long gone.



Regards,

Uncle Steve

-- 
Should a professional politician be charged with molestation if he
kisses babies while attending political rallies?

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Thread

Types in C jacob navia <jacob@spamsink.net> - 2011-05-22 21:29 +0200
  Re: Types in C Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2011-05-22 12:48 -0700
  Re: Types in C Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2011-05-22 23:03 +0100
    Re: Types in C jacob navia <jacob@spamsink.net> - 2011-05-23 10:35 +0200
      Re: Types in C Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2011-05-23 08:40 -0700
        Re: Types in C Seebs <usenet-nospam@seebs.net> - 2011-05-23 17:19 +0000
          Re: Types in C John Gordon <gordon@panix.com> - 2011-05-23 17:54 +0000
            Re: Types in C Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2011-05-23 11:33 -0700
              Re: Types in C Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2011-05-23 11:44 -0700
            Re: Types in C Seebs <usenet-nospam@seebs.net> - 2011-05-23 19:08 +0000
          Re: Types in C jacob navia <jacob@spamsink.net> - 2011-05-23 20:50 +0200
            Re: Types in C Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2011-05-23 12:11 -0700
              Re: Types in C Seebs <usenet-nospam@seebs.net> - 2011-05-23 19:45 +0000
                Re: Types in C Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2011-05-23 13:03 -0700
                Re: Types in C jacob navia <jacob@spamsink.net> - 2011-05-23 22:25 +0200
                Re: Types in C Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2011-05-23 14:38 -0700
                Re: Types in C jacob navia <jacob@spamsink.net> - 2011-05-23 23:45 +0200
                Re: Types in C Seebs <usenet-nospam@seebs.net> - 2011-05-23 22:02 +0000
                Re: Types in C jacob navia <jacob@spamsink.net> - 2011-05-24 00:10 +0200
                Re: Types in C jacob navia <jacob@spamsink.net> - 2011-05-23 22:12 +0200
                Re: Types in C Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2011-05-23 13:27 -0700
                Re: Types in C jacob navia <jacob@spamsink.net> - 2011-05-23 22:33 +0200
                Re: Types in C Martin Ambuhl <mambuhl@earthlink.net> - 2011-05-24 03:17 -0400
                Re: Types in C jacob navia <jacob@spamsink.net> - 2011-05-24 10:55 +0200
                Re: Types in C Ian Collins <ian-news@hotmail.com> - 2011-05-24 09:29 +1200
                Re: Types in C jacob navia <jacob@spamsink.net> - 2011-05-23 23:42 +0200
                Re: Types in C Ian Collins <ian-news@hotmail.com> - 2011-05-24 09:51 +1200
                Re: Types in C jacob navia <jacob@spamsink.net> - 2011-05-24 00:04 +0200
                Re: Types in C Ian Collins <ian-news@hotmail.com> - 2011-05-24 10:57 +1200
                Re: Types in C David Thompson <dave.thompson2@verizon.net> - 2011-06-01 16:33 -0400
                Re: Types in C Shao Miller <sha0.miller@gmail.com> - 2011-05-23 19:33 -0500
                Re: Types in C Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2011-05-24 08:27 -0700
                Re: Types in C Tim Rentsch <txr@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2011-05-31 00:40 -0700
                Re: Types in C jacob navia <jacob@spamsink.net> - 2011-05-31 11:32 +0200
                Re: Types in C Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2011-05-31 11:30 -0700
                Re: Types in C Tim Rentsch <txr@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2011-06-01 01:23 -0700
                Re: Types in C Uncle Steve <stevet810@gmail.com> - 2011-05-23 16:51 -0400
                Re: Types in C Ian Collins <ian-news@hotmail.com> - 2011-05-24 09:25 +1200
                Re: Types in C jacob navia <jacob@spamsink.net> - 2011-05-23 23:40 +0200
                Re: Types in C Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2011-05-24 08:36 -0700
                Re: Types in C Uncle Steve <stevet810@gmail.com> - 2011-05-23 17:53 -0400
                Re: Types in C Seebs <usenet-nospam@seebs.net> - 2011-05-23 22:24 +0000
                Re: Types in C Uncle Steve <stevet810@gmail.com> - 2011-05-23 19:23 -0400
                Re: Types in C Seebs <usenet-nospam@seebs.net> - 2011-05-23 23:57 +0000
                Re: Types in C Uncle Steve <stevet810@gmail.com> - 2011-05-23 21:22 -0400
                Re: Types in C Seebs <usenet-nospam@seebs.net> - 2011-05-24 03:46 +0000
                Re: Types in C Uncle Steve <stevet810@gmail.com> - 2011-05-24 00:24 -0400
                Re: Types in C Seebs <usenet-nospam@seebs.net> - 2011-05-24 04:44 +0000
                Re: Types in C pete <pfiland@mindspring.com> - 2011-05-24 07:46 -0400
                Re: Types in C James Kuyper <jameskuyper@verizon.net> - 2011-05-24 07:48 -0400
                Re: Types in C Ian Collins <ian-news@hotmail.com> - 2011-05-24 10:35 +1200
                Re: Types in C Seebs <usenet-nospam@seebs.net> - 2011-05-23 22:38 +0000
                Re: Types in C Ian Collins <ian-news@hotmail.com> - 2011-05-24 10:53 +1200
                Re: Types in C Seebs <usenet-nospam@seebs.net> - 2011-05-23 23:17 +0000
                Re: Types in C Ian Collins <ian-news@hotmail.com> - 2011-05-24 11:24 +1200
                Re: Types in C Seebs <usenet-nospam@seebs.net> - 2011-05-23 23:39 +0000
                Re: Types in C jacob navia <jacob@spamsink.net> - 2011-05-24 11:23 +0200
                Re: Types in C Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2011-05-24 08:46 -0700
                Re: Types in C Malcolm McLean <malcolm.mclean5@btinternet.com> - 2011-05-24 09:14 -0700
                Re: Types in C Michael Press <rubrum@pacbell.net> - 2011-05-28 21:50 -0700
                Re: Types in C "io_x" <a@b.c.invalid> - 2011-06-07 19:50 +0200
                Re: Types in C Uncle Steve <stevet810@gmail.com> - 2011-05-23 19:33 -0400
                Re: Types in C Ian Collins <ian-news@hotmail.com> - 2011-05-24 12:03 +1200
                Re: Types in C Uncle Steve <stevet810@gmail.com> - 2011-05-23 21:27 -0400
                Re: Types in C Ian Collins <ian-news@hotmail.com> - 2011-05-24 13:47 +1200
                Re: Types in C Uncle Steve <stevet810@gmail.com> - 2011-05-23 23:45 -0400
                Re: Types in C Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2011-05-24 00:07 -0700
                Re: Types in C James Kuyper <jameskuyper@verizon.net> - 2011-05-24 08:05 -0400
                Re: Types in C Shao Miller <sha0.miller@gmail.com> - 2011-05-23 19:54 -0500
                Re: Types in C Uncle Steve <stevet810@gmail.com> - 2011-05-23 21:03 -0400
                Re: Types in C Shao Miller <sha0.miller@gmail.com> - 2011-05-23 22:12 -0500
                Re: Types in C Uncle Steve <stevet810@gmail.com> - 2011-05-24 00:03 -0400
                Re: Types in C pete <pfiland@mindspring.com> - 2011-05-24 00:19 -0400
                Re: Types in C pete <pfiland@mindspring.com> - 2011-05-24 00:20 -0400
                Re: Types in C Shao Miller <sha0.miller@gmail.com> - 2011-05-24 00:46 -0500
                Re: Types in C pete <pfiland@mindspring.com> - 2011-05-24 07:36 -0400
                Re: Types in C Uncle Steve <stevet810@gmail.com> - 2011-05-24 10:58 -0400
                Re: Types in C Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2011-05-24 09:40 -0700
                Re: Types in C Uncle Steve <stevet810@gmail.com> - 2011-05-24 21:36 -0400
                Re: Types in C David Thompson <dave.thompson2@verizon.net> - 2011-06-01 16:33 -0400
                Re: Types in C Seebs <usenet-nospam@seebs.net> - 2011-05-24 16:50 +0000
                Re: Types in C Uncle Steve <stevet810@gmail.com> - 2011-05-24 21:10 -0400
                Re: Types in C Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2011-05-24 18:19 -0700
                Re: Types in C Uncle Steve <stevet810@gmail.com> - 2011-05-24 21:42 -0400
                Re: Types in C Shao Miller <sha0.miller@gmail.com> - 2011-05-24 23:47 -0500
                Re: Types in C Uncle Steve <stevet810@gmail.com> - 2011-05-25 10:13 -0400
                Re: Types in C Joe Pfeiffer <pfeiffer@cs.nmsu.edu> - 2011-05-24 22:19 -0600
                Re: Types in C Dr Nick <3-nospam@temporary-address.org.uk> - 2011-05-25 07:04 +0100
                Re: Types in C Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2011-05-25 08:53 -0700
                Re: Types in C Joe Pfeiffer <pfeiffer@cs.nmsu.edu> - 2011-05-25 10:11 -0600
                Re: Types in C Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2011-05-24 09:02 -0700
                Re: Types in C James Kuyper <jameskuyper@verizon.net> - 2011-05-24 07:37 -0400
                Re: Types in C Seebs <usenet-nospam@seebs.net> - 2011-05-23 22:02 +0000
                Re: Types in C Uncle Steve <stevet810@gmail.com> - 2011-05-23 18:15 -0400
                Re: Types in C Seebs <usenet-nospam@seebs.net> - 2011-05-23 22:25 +0000
                Re: Types in C Uncle Steve <stevet810@gmail.com> - 2011-05-23 19:39 -0400
                Re: Types in C Seebs <usenet-nospam@seebs.net> - 2011-05-23 23:57 +0000
                Re: Types in C Uncle Steve <stevet810@gmail.com> - 2011-05-23 21:10 -0400
                Re: Types in C Seebs <usenet-nospam@seebs.net> - 2011-05-24 01:58 +0000
                Re: Types in C Uncle Steve <stevet810@gmail.com> - 2011-05-23 23:56 -0400
                Re: Types in C Seebs <usenet-nospam@seebs.net> - 2011-05-24 04:32 +0000
                Re: Types in C "BartC" <bc@freeuk.com> - 2011-05-25 01:29 +0100
                Re: Types in C Shao Miller <sha0.miller@gmail.com> - 2011-05-23 22:20 -0500
                Re: Types in C Shao Miller <sha0.miller@gmail.com> - 2011-05-23 22:42 -0500
                Re: Types in C Uncle Steve <stevet810@gmail.com> - 2011-05-24 00:07 -0400
                Re: Types in C Seebs <usenet-nospam@seebs.net> - 2011-05-24 04:44 +0000
                Re: Types in C Uncle Steve <stevet810@gmail.com> - 2011-05-24 10:24 -0400
                Re: Types in C Seebs <usenet-nospam@seebs.net> - 2011-05-24 16:50 +0000
                Re: Types in C Uncle Steve <stevet810@gmail.com> - 2011-05-24 21:16 -0400
                Re: Types in C Seebs <usenet-nospam@seebs.net> - 2011-05-25 03:36 +0000
                Re: Types in C Shao Miller <sha0.miller@gmail.com> - 2011-05-24 01:26 -0500
                Re: Types in C Uncle Steve <stevet810@gmail.com> - 2011-05-24 11:04 -0400
                Re: Types in C Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2011-05-24 09:06 -0700
            Re: Types in C David Thompson <dave.thompson2@verizon.net> - 2011-06-01 16:33 -0400
  Re: Types in C Marcin Grzegorczyk <mgrzegor@poczta.onet.pl> - 2011-05-30 22:42 +0200
    Re: Types in C Shao Miller <sha0.miller@gmail.com> - 2011-05-30 17:45 -0500
      Re: Types in C Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2011-05-31 08:47 -0700
        Re: Types in C Shao Miller <sha0.miller@gmail.com> - 2011-05-31 13:54 -0400
    Re: Types in C jacob navia <jacob@spamsink.net> - 2011-05-31 00:16 +0200
      Re: Types in C Shao Miller <sha0.miller@gmail.com> - 2011-05-30 18:30 -0500
      Re: Types in C Marcin Grzegorczyk <mgrzegor@poczta.onet.pl> - 2011-06-02 22:44 +0200
        Re: Types in C jacob navia <jacob@spamsink.net> - 2011-06-02 22:49 +0200
          Re: Types in C Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2011-06-02 15:26 -0700

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