Re: Why use C++?

From	Brian Drummond <brian@shapes.demon.co.uk>
Newsgroups	comp.lang.c++, comp.lang.ada
Subject	Re: Why use C++?
Date	2011-08-13 11:54 +0000
Organization	A noiseless patient Spider
Message-ID	<j25olv$rtg$1@dont-email.me> (permalink)
References	(18 earlier) <j25ahb$gqm$1@dont-email.me> <s2xz04q9idte.hfqivhx1f77o.dlg@40tude.net> <9amuf2FdetU3@mid.individual.net> <m0g18wtbk40g$.1ebe2ndaeyvuj$.dlg@40tude.net> <9an4doFdeuU2@mid.individual.net>

Cross-posted to 2 groups.

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On Sat, 13 Aug 2011 23:10:48 +1200, Ian Collins wrote:

> On 08/13/11 09:52 PM, Dmitry A. Kazakov wrote:
>> On Sat, 13 Aug 2011 21:29:05 +1200, Ian Collins wrote:
>>
>>> It's pretty rare for the application domain to be concerned about the
>>> semantics of an integer beyond those specified by the language.
>>
>> If buffer overflows and code quality is not a concern, then yes.
> 
> Most variables have limited scope and a well defined range.  So if I use
> an int in a for loop over a small set of data, I'm not writing poor
> quality code.

Yes you are (in this hypothetical example), if you care about either 
reliability or efficiency.

By specifying "int" you are prohibiting the compiler from both:
(a) using a smaller and possibly faster type that is adequate to cover 
the range of data.
and (b) using a larger type if "int" does not actually cover the range.

Specify user-defined types "range 1 .. 100" or "range 32760 ..32769" or 
"range lower .. upper" and let the compiler choose the optimal base type 
for the current target. (Imagine using "int" here on a 16-bit platform) 

Incidentally, the values of "lower" and "upper" need not be determined 
until runtime. The compiler can infer the best base type from whatever 
constraints it finds on "lower" and "upper".

So why get in its way?

- Brian

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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