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Groups > comp.lang.c++ > #8754

Re: Why use C++?

From Ludovic Brenta <ludovic@ludovic-brenta.org>
Newsgroups comp.lang.c++, comp.lang.ada
Subject Re: Why use C++?
Date 2011-08-12 23:22 +0200
Organization A noiseless patient Spider
Message-ID <8739h65nr6.fsf@ludovic-brenta.org> (permalink)
References (12 earlier) <j22c68$2m7$1@dont-email.me> <4e44e50a$0$7619$9b4e6d93@newsspool1.arcor-online.net> <j23fvr$gsf$1@dont-email.me> <4e4560e7$0$6546$9b4e6d93@newsspool4.arcor-online.net> <j2407a$3qv$1@dont-email.me>

Cross-posted to 2 groups.

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Jed writes:
>> When have you last thought about the size of the components
>> of std::string, of of a vtable?  Why, then, is there a
>> pressing need to think about the sizes of int types?
>
> You know that that was a very bad comparison. Completely invalid.

On the contrary I think this comparison is perfectly valid.  The
language should distinguish between integers (i.e. numbers) and various
kinds of machine registers.  If you think you need to know the number of
bits in an int, this indicates you are dealing with low-level stuff and
therefore need something much more precise than "int", which specifies
not only size in bits but also bit-endianness, byte-endianness,
alignment, permissible operations and, if arithmetic is possible at all,
overflow semantics.  C conveniently ignores all these things and leaves
them unspecified.  With Ada, the programmer can specify most of those
aspects (except, sadly, for byte-endianness).

If you confuse "size of an int" for "range of permissible values for an
int", then you ignore the possibility that the range might not fit at
all with any size in bits, e.g.

subtype Fridge_Temperature is range 250 .. 313; -- kelvins

Most of the time, you do *not* need to know the size of an int; instead
you need to know the size of a hardware register, field in a network
protocol, etc and these are, quite often, *not* numbers.

-- 
Ludovic Brenta.
The Chief Legal Officer proactively enables our potentials. 

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Thread

Why use C++? Miro <nickbergeronsemail@gmail.com> - 2011-08-06 14:00 -0700
  Re: Why use C++? "Paul" <pchristor@yahoo.co.uk> - 2011-08-06 22:09 +0100
    Re: Why use C++? Stuart Redmann <DerTopper@web.de> - 2011-08-10 00:39 -0700
      Re: Why use C++? "Paul" <pchristor@yahoo.co.uk> - 2011-08-10 09:59 +0100
        Re: Why use C++? Stuart Redmann <DerTopper@web.de> - 2011-08-10 07:09 -0700
          Re: Why use C++? "Paul" <pchristor@yahoo.co.uk> - 2011-08-10 17:22 +0100
          Re: Why use C++? Niklas Holsti <niklas.holsti@tidorum.invalid> - 2011-08-10 22:05 +0300
            Re: Why use C++? "Randy Brukardt" <randy@rrsoftware.com> - 2011-08-10 17:37 -0500
              Re: Why use C++? Ludovic Brenta <ludovic@ludovic-brenta.org> - 2011-08-11 00:49 +0200
                Re: Why use C++? "Randy Brukardt" <randy@rrsoftware.com> - 2011-08-11 23:54 -0500
              Re: Why use C++? "Dmitry A. Kazakov" <mailbox@dmitry-kazakov.de> - 2011-08-11 09:54 +0200
                Re: Why use C++? "Dmitry A. Kazakov" <mailbox@dmitry-kazakov.de> - 2011-08-11 11:13 +0200
                Re: Why use C++? Georg Bauhaus <rm.dash-bauhaus@futureapps.de> - 2011-08-11 13:43 +0200
                Re: Why use C++? "Dmitry A. Kazakov" <mailbox@dmitry-kazakov.de> - 2011-08-11 17:09 +0200
                Re: Why use C++? Georg Bauhaus <rm.dash-bauhaus@futureapps.de> - 2011-08-12 10:32 +0200
                Re: Why use C++? Hyman Rosen <hyrosen@mail.com> - 2011-08-12 09:15 -0400
                Re: Why use C++? "Randy Brukardt" <randy@rrsoftware.com> - 2011-08-12 17:09 -0500
                Re: Why use C++? Georg Bauhaus <rm.dash-bauhaus@futureapps.de> - 2011-08-12 19:20 +0200
                Re: Why use C++? Ludovic Brenta <ludovic@ludovic-brenta.org> - 2011-08-12 23:22 +0200
                Re: Why use C++? Ludovic Brenta <ludovic@ludovic-brenta.org> - 2011-08-16 06:06 -0700
                Re: Why use C++? Georg Bauhaus <rm.dash-bauhaus@futureapps.de> - 2011-08-13 11:37 +0200
                Re: Why use C++? Georg Bauhaus <rm.dash-bauhaus@futureapps.de> - 2011-08-13 12:27 +0200
                Re: Why use C++? Georg Bauhaus <rm.dash-bauhaus@futureapps.de> - 2011-08-15 13:38 +0200
                Re: Why use C++? Georg Bauhaus <rm.dash-bauhaus@futureapps.de> - 2011-08-13 13:02 +0200
                Re: Why use C++? "Dmitry A. Kazakov" <mailbox@dmitry-kazakov.de> - 2011-08-12 11:21 +0200
                Re: Why use C++? "Dmitry A. Kazakov" <mailbox@dmitry-kazakov.de> - 2011-08-12 16:30 +0200
                Re: Why use C++? "Dmitry A. Kazakov" <mailbox@dmitry-kazakov.de> - 2011-08-12 22:05 +0200
                Re: Why use C++? "Dmitry A. Kazakov" <mailbox@dmitry-kazakov.de> - 2011-08-13 11:15 +0200
                Re: Why use C++? Ian Collins <ian-news@hotmail.com> - 2011-08-13 21:29 +1200
                Re: Why use C++? "Dmitry A. Kazakov" <mailbox@dmitry-kazakov.de> - 2011-08-13 11:52 +0200
                Re: Why use C++? Ian Collins <ian-news@hotmail.com> - 2011-08-13 23:10 +1200
                Re: Why use C++? Georg Bauhaus <rm.dash-bauhaus@futureapps.de> - 2011-08-13 13:46 +0200
                Re: Why use C++? Ian Collins <ian-news@hotmail.com> - 2011-08-14 08:30 +1200
                Re: Why use C++? Brian Drummond <brian@shapes.demon.co.uk> - 2011-08-13 11:54 +0000
                Re: Why use C++? Simon Wright <simon@pushface.org> - 2011-08-13 14:12 +0100
                Re: Why use C++? Brian Drummond <brian@shapes.demon.co.uk> - 2011-08-14 11:01 +0000
                Re: Why use C++? "Dmitry A. Kazakov" <mailbox@dmitry-kazakov.de> - 2011-08-14 08:46 +0200
                Re: Why use C++? "Dmitry A. Kazakov" <mailbox@dmitry-kazakov.de> - 2011-08-14 08:51 +0200
                Re: Why use C++? "Dmitry A. Kazakov" <mailbox@dmitry-kazakov.de> - 2011-08-14 09:29 +0200
                Re: Why use C++? Nick Keighley <nick_keighley_nospam@hotmail.com> - 2011-08-16 01:18 -0700
                Re: Why use C++? "Dmitry A. Kazakov" <mailbox@dmitry-kazakov.de> - 2011-08-16 10:47 +0200
                Re: Why use C++? Nick Keighley <nick_keighley_nospam@hotmail.com> - 2011-08-16 02:52 -0700
                Re: Why use C++? "Dmitry A. Kazakov" <mailbox@dmitry-kazakov.de> - 2011-08-16 12:39 +0200
                Re: Why use C++? Georg Bauhaus <rm.dash-bauhaus@futureapps.de> - 2011-08-16 12:23 +0200
                Re: Why use C++? "Dmitry A. Kazakov" <mailbox@dmitry-kazakov.de> - 2011-08-16 12:58 +0200
                Re: Why use C++? Georg Bauhaus <rm.dash-bauhaus@futureapps.de> - 2011-08-16 13:44 +0200
                Re: Why use C++? Bill Findlay <yaldnif.w@blueyonder.co.uk> - 2011-08-16 15:51 +0100
                Re: Why use C++? "Dmitry A. Kazakov" <mailbox@dmitry-kazakov.de> - 2011-08-16 21:13 +0200
                Re: Why use C++? Bill Findlay <yaldnif.w@blueyonder.co.uk> - 2011-08-16 20:23 +0100
                Re: Why use C++? "Randy Brukardt" <randy@rrsoftware.com> - 2011-08-12 00:02 -0500
                Re: Why use C++? Robert Wessel <robertwessel2@yahoo.com> - 2011-08-12 00:16 -0500
                Re: Why use C++? Adam Beneschan <adam@irvine.com> - 2011-08-12 09:39 -0700
                Re: Why use C++? Paavo Helde <myfirstname@osa.pri.ee> - 2011-08-12 01:51 -0500
                Re: Why use C++? Georg Bauhaus <rm.dash-bauhaus@futureapps.de> - 2011-08-12 09:41 +0200
                Re: Why use C++? "Dmitry A. Kazakov" <mailbox@dmitry-kazakov.de> - 2011-08-12 11:40 +0200
                Re: Why use C++? Stuart Redmann <DerTopper@web.de> - 2011-08-12 04:48 -0700
                Re: Why use C++? "Vinzent Hoefler" <0439279208b62c95f1880bf0f8776eeb@t-domaingrabbing.de> - 2011-08-12 15:12 +0200
                Re: Why use C++? Stuart Redmann <DerTopper@web.de> - 2011-08-12 08:50 -0700
                Re: Why use C++? Bill Findlay <yaldnif.w@blueyonder.co.uk> - 2011-08-12 18:02 +0100
                Re: Why use C++? "Vinzent Hoefler" <0439279208b62c95f1880bf0f8776eeb@t-domaingrabbing.de> - 2011-08-15 14:59 +0200
                Re: Why use C++? Louisa <louisa.hutch@gmail.com> - 2011-08-18 06:39 -0700
          Re: Why use C++? Colin Paul Gloster <Colin_Paul_Gloster@ACM.org> - 2011-08-11 10:02 +0000
      Re: Why use C++? Dombo <dombo@disposable.invalid> - 2011-08-11 20:20 +0200
        Re: Why use C++? Lynn McGuire <lmc@winsim.com> - 2011-08-11 14:50 -0500
        Re: Why use C++? Dombo <dombo@disposable.invalid> - 2011-08-12 19:22 +0200
    Re: Why use C++? Miro <nickbergeronsemail@gmail.com> - 2011-08-13 08:37 -0700
      Re: Why use C++? Ian Collins <ian-news@hotmail.com> - 2011-08-14 08:38 +1200
        Re: Why use C++? Ian Collins <ian-news@hotmail.com> - 2011-08-14 10:41 +1200
          Re: Why use C++? Jorgen Grahn <grahn+nntp@snipabacken.se> - 2011-08-14 07:26 +0000
            Re: Why use C++? Ian Collins <ian-news@hotmail.com> - 2011-08-14 20:18 +1200
              Re: Why use C++? Jorgen Grahn <grahn+nntp@snipabacken.se> - 2011-08-14 09:00 +0000
        Re: Why use C++? Nick Keighley <nick_keighley_nospam@hotmail.com> - 2011-08-16 02:10 -0700
          Re: Why use C++? Ian Collins <ian-news@hotmail.com> - 2011-08-16 21:25 +1200
            Re: Why use C++? Nick Keighley <nick_keighley_nospam@hotmail.com> - 2011-08-16 02:54 -0700
              Re: Why use C++? Ian Collins <ian-news@hotmail.com> - 2011-08-16 22:04 +1200
  Re: Why use C++? Ian Collins <ian-news@hotmail.com> - 2011-08-07 09:10 +1200
    Re: Why use C++? "Paul" <pchristor@yahoo.co.uk> - 2011-08-06 22:13 +0100
      Re: Why use C++? Juha Nieminen <nospam@thanks.invalid> - 2011-08-07 09:09 +0000
        Re: Why use C++? "Paul" <pchristor@yahoo.co.uk> - 2011-08-07 12:37 +0100
          Re: Why use C++? Juha Nieminen <nospam@thanks.invalid> - 2011-08-07 14:52 +0000
            Re: Why use C++? "Paul" <pchristor@yahoo.co.uk> - 2011-08-07 20:21 +0100
  Re: Why use C++? Lynn McGuire <lmc@winsim.com> - 2011-08-06 16:29 -0500
  Re: Why use C++? Jorgen Grahn <grahn+nntp@snipabacken.se> - 2011-08-07 09:35 +0000
    Re: Why use C++? "crea" <no@invalid.com> - 2011-08-07 13:40 +0100
  Re: Why use C++? Dombo <dombo@disposable.invalid> - 2011-08-07 15:12 +0200
    Re: Why use C++? Juha Nieminen <nospam@thanks.invalid> - 2011-08-07 14:55 +0000

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