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Groups > comp.lang.c > #138538

Re: Big integers

Subject Re: Big integers
Newsgroups comp.lang.c
References <YfuND.286973$lKb.275890@fx15.am4> <g6oqspF2giqU1@mid.individual.net> <L3PND.252067$Z%1.51148@fx16.am4> <pu8k6m$tva$1@dont-email.me>
From Bart <bc@freeuk.com>
Message-ID <inRND.427702$kh6.132887@fx32.am4> (permalink)
Organization virginmedia.com
Date 2018-12-05 14:35 +0000

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On 05/12/2018 13:35, David Brown wrote:
> On 05/12/18 12:58, Bart wrote:

>> You mean, /I/ shouldn't use int32 so that someone else can?
> 
> You should not use "int32" in a /header/, in case other people want to
> use it.  What you do in the /implementation/ is up to you.
> 
> To most of us, there is absolutely no point in having types like "int32"
> as typedefs for "int32_t" - it is an entirely negative thing.  It merely
> introduces a non-standard name with no functionality, severing to
> confuse, complicate and irritate.  So /users/ of your library are not
> remotely interested in having a type "int32" defined here.
> 
> I realise that you think "int32_t" is so hideously ugly that you don't
> want to use it in your own code, and prefer a typedef to "int32".  I
> can't say I can comprehend that attitude, but I can appreciate that this
> is your opinion.  So if you want to use "int32" in your implementation
> code, go ahead.  The emphasis in the C code should be what suits /you/
> best, while the emphasis in the header file is what suits /others/ best.
> 
> I would actually severely question the choice of types here altogether.

I think, because this seems to be a sore point, I will remove all such 
controversial matters from the header.

I might also change 'Bigint' to be an opaque pointer rather than a 
struct (and possibly using only an array rather than struct+array).

> First, in any API you should strive to minimise extra functions.
> "bn_print" is useful - "bn_println" is not.

(My test programs only use the latter! However here, the most general 
function is 'bn_tostring'.)

> You could also separate the count of the blocks allocated from the
> number of digits used.  This can make it easier to do in-place
> operations (like "x += y") with fewer allocations and copies.  And you
> really want in-place operations for a library like this:
> 
> 	a = bn_add(a, b);
> 
> will be slow an leaky, while:
> 
> 	bn_add_to(&a, b);
> 
> would be faster and safe.
> 
> 
> Finally, I would want a "small number optimisation" feature - a fixed
> size of data, perhaps 4 uint32_t or a single uint64_t - within the
> BigInt struct itself.  Numbers that are small enough to be stored there
> would be there, and be very much faster to use.

Thanks for the comments.

My own original requirement was for something to provide the underlying 
algorithms, and take care of all the fiddly work.

Those other things can either be built on top, or if the library is 
simple enough, it can be adapted. For example:

     void bn_add_to(Bigint* pa, Bigint b){
         Bigint c;
         c = bn_add(*pa, b);
         bn_free(*pa);
         *pa = c;
     }

While in the language where this was originally used, you can write this:

     a +:= b        # a, b both big integers

even though the underlying add routine has a similar interface to bn_add.

(Here, this isn't a true in-place addition. It is simulated like the 
bn_add_to example. One reason is that in this language when you do this:

    a := b

a and b will share the same numeric data. You don't want subsequent 
in-place changes to a to be reflected in b.)

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Thread

Big integers Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2018-12-04 12:17 +0000
  Re: Big integers fir <profesor.fir@gmail.com> - 2018-12-04 05:58 -0800
    Re: Big integers Chad <cdalten@gmail.com> - 2018-12-04 08:22 -0800
      Re: Big integers Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2018-12-04 17:04 +0000
        Re: Big integers scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2018-12-04 17:19 +0000
  Re: Big integers Malcolm McLean <malcolm.arthur.mclean@gmail.com> - 2018-12-04 08:38 -0800
    Re: Big integers Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2018-12-04 17:35 +0000
      Re: Big integers Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2018-12-04 18:13 +0000
        Re: Big integers "Rick C. Hodgin" <rick.c.hodgin@gmail.com> - 2018-12-04 10:50 -0800
        Re: Big integers Rosario19 <Ros@invalid.invalid> - 2018-12-06 17:56 +0100
      Re: Big integers Thiago Adams <thiago.adams@gmail.com> - 2018-12-04 10:22 -0800
        Re: Big integers Eli the Bearded <*@eli.users.panix.com> - 2018-12-04 18:58 +0000
          Re: Big integers Thiago Adams <thiago.adams@gmail.com> - 2018-12-04 11:32 -0800
            Re: Big integers Eli the Bearded <*@eli.users.panix.com> - 2018-12-04 22:45 +0000
              Re: Big integers jameskuyper@alumni.caltech.edu - 2018-12-04 14:57 -0800
          Re: Big integers jameskuyper@alumni.caltech.edu - 2018-12-04 12:14 -0800
          Re: Big integers chris.m.thomasson.1@gmail.com - 2018-12-04 16:58 -0800
            Re: Big integers Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2018-12-05 03:14 +0000
              Re: Big integers "Chris M. Thomasson" <invalid_chris_thomasson@invalid.invalid> - 2018-12-05 14:27 -0800
            Re: Big integers Lew Pitcher <lew.pitcher@digitalfreehold.ca> - 2018-12-04 20:03 -0500
              Re: Big integers "Chris M. Thomasson" <invalid_chris_thomasson@invalid.invalid> - 2018-12-05 14:25 -0800
      Re: Big integers jacob navia <jacob@jacob.remcomp.fr> - 2018-12-04 23:45 +0100
        Re: Big integers Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2018-12-04 23:29 +0000
        Re: Big integers Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2018-12-05 00:30 +0000
          Re: Big integers "Chris M. Thomasson" <invalid_chris_thomasson@invalid.invalid> - 2018-12-05 14:28 -0800
        Re: Big integers Jens Stuckelberger <Jens_Stuckelberger@nowhere.net> - 2018-12-05 17:50 +0000
          Re: Big integers jacobnavia <jacob@jacob.remcomp.fr> - 2018-12-05 20:03 +0100
        Re: Big integers Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2018-12-05 13:46 -0800
          Re: Big integers jacobnavia <jacob@jacob.remcomp.fr> - 2018-12-06 06:41 +0100
            Re: Big integers Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2018-12-05 22:40 -0800
  Re: Big integers "Rick C. Hodgin" <rick.c.hodgin@gmail.com> - 2018-12-04 09:08 -0800
    Re: Big integers Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2018-12-04 19:41 +0000
      Re: Big integers "Rick C. Hodgin" <rick.c.hodgin@gmail.com> - 2018-12-04 12:00 -0800
    Re: Big integers Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2018-12-08 11:28 +0000
  Re: Big integers Ian Collins <ian-news@hotmail.com> - 2018-12-05 15:19 +1300
    Re: Big integers Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2018-12-05 11:58 +0000
      Re: Big integers David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2018-12-05 14:35 +0100
        Re: Big integers Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2018-12-05 14:35 +0000
          Re: Big integers Malcolm McLean <malcolm.arthur.mclean@gmail.com> - 2018-12-05 07:39 -0800
            Re: Big integers Thiago Adams <thiago.adams@gmail.com> - 2018-12-05 07:45 -0800
              Re: Big integers Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2018-12-05 17:51 +0000
                Re: Big integers David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2018-12-05 22:19 +0100
              Re: Big integers "Chris M. Thomasson" <invalid_chris_thomasson@invalid.invalid> - 2018-12-05 14:55 -0800
                Re: Big integers jameskuyper@alumni.caltech.edu - 2018-12-05 15:19 -0800
                Re: Big integers "Chris M. Thomasson" <invalid_chris_thomasson@invalid.invalid> - 2018-12-05 16:13 -0800
                Re: Big integers David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2018-12-06 09:35 +0100
                Re: Big integers "Chris M. Thomasson" <invalid_chris_thomasson@invalid.invalid> - 2018-12-07 14:26 -0800
                Re: Big integers "Chris M. Thomasson" <invalid_chris_thomasson@invalid.invalid> - 2018-12-07 19:56 -0800
                Re: Big integers James Kuyper <jameskuyper@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2018-12-09 12:01 -0500
                Re: Big integers "Chris M. Thomasson" <invalid_chris_thomasson@invalid.invalid> - 2018-12-10 14:47 -0800
                Re: Big integers scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2018-12-11 00:50 +0000
                Re: Big integers "Chris M. Thomasson" <invalid_chris_thomasson@invalid.invalid> - 2018-12-10 17:37 -0800
                Re: Big integers "Chris M. Thomasson" <invalid_chris_thomasson@invalid.invalid> - 2018-12-14 21:18 -0800
          Re: Big integers Thiago Adams <thiago.adams@gmail.com> - 2018-12-05 07:57 -0800
          Re: Big integers Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2018-12-05 15:59 +0000
            Re: Big integers Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2018-12-05 22:59 +0000
              Re: Big integers jameskuyper@alumni.caltech.edu - 2018-12-05 15:31 -0800
                Re: Big integers Robert Wessel <robertwessel2@yahoo.com> - 2018-12-05 20:03 -0600
              Re: Big integers scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2018-12-05 23:42 +0000
                Re: Big integers James Kuyper <jameskuyper@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2018-12-05 20:15 -0500
              Re: Big integers Ike Naar <ike@iceland.freeshell.org> - 2018-12-10 07:26 +0000
                Re: Big integers Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2018-12-10 18:38 +0000
                Re: Big integers scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2018-12-10 19:10 +0000
                Re: Big integers Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2018-12-10 21:23 +0000
                Re: Big integers Ike Naar <ike@iceland.freeshell.org> - 2018-12-10 22:47 +0000
          Re: Big integers David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2018-12-05 22:15 +0100
        Re: Big integers Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2018-12-06 13:43 +0000
          Re: Big integers Thiago Adams <thiago.adams@gmail.com> - 2018-12-06 07:50 -0800
      Re: Big integers Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2018-12-05 15:19 +0000
        Re: Big integers luser droog <luser.droog@gmail.com> - 2018-12-10 23:19 -0800
          Re: Big integers David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2018-12-11 08:45 +0100
            Re: Big integers Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2018-12-11 11:15 +0000
              Re: Big integers Malcolm McLean <malcolm.arthur.mclean@gmail.com> - 2018-12-11 04:36 -0800
                Re: Big integers David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2018-12-11 14:35 +0100
              Re: Modules again (was: Big integers) Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2018-12-11 12:53 +0000
                Re: Modules again David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2018-12-11 14:45 +0100
                Re: Modules again Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2018-12-11 16:08 +0000
                Re: Modules again David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2018-12-11 21:37 +0100
                Re: Modules again Thiago Adams <thiago.adams@gmail.com> - 2018-12-11 08:59 -0800
                Re: Modules again Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2018-12-11 17:49 +0000
                Re: Modules again David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2018-12-11 21:44 +0100
                Re: Modules again scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2018-12-11 18:02 +0000
                Re: Modules again Thiago Adams <thiago.adams@gmail.com> - 2018-12-11 10:10 -0800
                Re: Modules again scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2018-12-11 18:54 +0000
                Re: Modules again Lew Pitcher <lew.pitcher@digitalfreehold.ca> - 2018-12-11 13:14 -0500
                Re: Modules again scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2018-12-11 18:54 +0000
                Re: Modules again Lew Pitcher <lew.pitcher@digitalfreehold.ca> - 2018-12-11 14:42 -0500
                Re: Modules again David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2018-12-11 21:54 +0100
                Re: Modules again Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2018-12-11 14:53 -0800
                Re: Modules again David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2018-12-12 08:24 +0100
                Re: Modules again David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2018-12-11 21:51 +0100
                Re: Modules again scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2018-12-11 23:24 +0000
                Re: Modules again Lew Pitcher <lew.pitcher@digitalfreehold.ca> - 2018-12-11 18:44 -0500
                Re: Modules again Lew Pitcher <lew.pitcher@digitalfreehold.ca> - 2018-12-11 18:45 -0500
                Re: Modules again Jorgen Grahn <grahn+nntp@snipabacken.se> - 2018-12-12 06:39 +0000
                Re: Modules again James Kuyper <jameskuyper@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2018-12-12 07:59 -0500
                Re: Modules again mark.bluemel@gmail.com - 2018-12-12 05:43 -0800
                Re: Modules again scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2018-12-12 14:20 +0000
                Re: Modules again David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2018-12-12 17:10 +0100
                Re: Modules again James Kuyper <jameskuyper@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2018-12-12 13:39 -0800
                Re: Modules again scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2018-12-12 14:19 +0000
                Re: Modules again Lew Pitcher <lew.pitcher@digitalfreehold.ca> - 2018-12-12 10:28 -0500
      Re: Big integers Ian Collins <ian-news@hotmail.com> - 2018-12-06 08:10 +1300
        Re: Big integers Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2018-12-05 20:57 +0000
          Re: Big integers Ian Collins <ian-news@hotmail.com> - 2018-12-06 10:16 +1300
            Re: Big integers Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2018-12-05 23:15 +0000
              Re: Big integers scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2018-12-05 23:44 +0000
  Re: Big integers Robert Wessel <robertwessel2@yahoo.com> - 2018-12-05 02:51 -0600
  Re: Big integers antispam@math.uni.wroc.pl - 2018-12-07 15:26 +0000
    Re: Big integers Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2018-12-07 16:27 +0000
      Re: Big integers scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2018-12-07 16:36 +0000
        Re: Big integers Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2018-12-07 17:01 +0000
      Re: Big integers Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2018-12-07 17:55 +0000
      Re: Big integers antispam@math.uni.wroc.pl - 2018-12-07 19:26 +0000
        Re: Big integers Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2018-12-07 21:39 +0000
          Re: Big integers Ian Collins <ian-news@hotmail.com> - 2018-12-08 10:51 +1300
  Re: Big integers Anton Shepelev <anton.txt@gmail.com> - 2018-12-08 00:43 +0300
    Re: Big integers Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2018-12-08 01:08 +0000
    Re: Big integers David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2018-12-08 15:13 +0100
      Re: Big integers David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2018-12-08 15:15 +0100
        Re: Big integers Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2018-12-08 14:48 +0000
          Re: Big integers Thiago Adams <thiago.adams@gmail.com> - 2018-12-10 05:10 -0800
            Re: Big integers Malcolm McLean <malcolm.arthur.mclean@gmail.com> - 2018-12-10 05:22 -0800
              Re: Big integers David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2018-12-10 15:27 +0100
                Re: Big integers scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2018-12-10 15:59 +0000
                Re: Big integers antispam@math.uni.wroc.pl - 2018-12-11 21:14 +0000
            Re: Big integers Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2018-12-10 14:56 +0000
              Re: Big integers Ike Naar <ike@iceland.freeshell.org> - 2018-12-10 17:46 +0000
                Re: Big integers Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2018-12-10 18:24 +0000
                Re: Big integers Thiago Adams <thiago.adams@gmail.com> - 2018-12-10 11:12 -0800
                Re: Big integers Thiago Adams <thiago.adams@gmail.com> - 2018-12-10 11:23 -0800
                Re: Big integers Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2018-12-10 21:44 +0000
                Re: Big integers Thiago Adams <thiago.adams@gmail.com> - 2018-12-11 10:20 -0800
                Re: Big integers "Chris M. Thomasson" <invalid_chris_thomasson@invalid.invalid> - 2018-12-11 13:15 -0800
      Re: Big integers Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2018-12-08 12:14 -0800
        Re: Big integers David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2018-12-09 13:31 +0100
      Re: Big integers "Chris M. Thomasson" <invalid_chris_thomasson@invalid.invalid> - 2018-12-08 15:52 -0800
  Re: Big integers Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2018-12-16 19:29 +0000
  Re: Big integers "Tristan B. Kildaire" <deavmi@disroot.org> - 2018-12-25 12:59 +0000
    Re: Big integers Bart <bc@freeuk.com> - 2018-12-25 15:54 +0000

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