Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h

From	Stephen Sprunk <stephen@sprunk.org>
Newsgroups	comp.lang.c
Subject	Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h
Date	2012-01-29 16:52 -0600
Organization	A noiseless patient Spider
Message-ID	<jg4ijv$pcd$1@dont-email.me> (permalink)
References	(6 earlier) <9ogttuF8j1U1@mid.individual.net> <jfvvjr$qn1$1@dont-email.me> <c26d808d-1ecd-470d-b1ad-a244ab780373@l16g2000vbl.googlegroups.com> <jg1p56$kgf$1@dont-email.me> <ln62fv1kfn.fsf@nuthaus.mib.org>

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On 28-Jan-12 17:22, Keith Thompson wrote:
> Stephen Sprunk <stephen@sprunk.org> writes:
>> On 28-Jan-12 06:28, Malcolm McLean wrote:
>>> In C true is non-zero. But if we hash define true and false, if(2 ==
>>> true) evaluates to false, if(2) evaluates to true. Most undesireable.
>>
>> The logical solution to that problem would be to define an equality test
>> with a boolean operand so the test becomes if( (_Bool)2 == true).
> 
> No, the logical solution is *not to compare Boolean values to true*.
> 
> "if (2)" isn't likely to occur in real code, but if you have a
> variable like "ok" whose value is logically Boolean (whether it's
> declared as bool, _Bool, int, or something else), then the way to
> test it is simply:
> 
>     if (ok) ...
> 
> Writing this:
> 
>     if (ok == true) ...
> 
> make no more sense than this:
> 
>     if ((ok == true) == true) ...

That much is fair.  I prefer "if (ptr)" over "if (ptr!=NULL)" as well.

I'll note, though, that "if (ok!=false)" works just fine, even for
uncommon values of truth.

> There are issues when you want to compare two non-constant Boolean
> values to each other.  For example, you might have two Boolean functions
> that are supposed to compute the same result, and you want to verify
> that they behave consistently.  In that case, what you really want to do
> is:
> 
>     if (func1() == func2()) ...
> 
> which can fail if they return int, and one of them returns 1 while the
> other returns 2 (both true values).  In that case, you need some
> additional logic to avoid that kind of problem -- such as:
> 
>     if ((bool)func1() == (bool)func2()) ...

That's just working around a bug: the functions return int instead of
returning bool.

> (assuming your compiler gets this right), or:
> 
>     if (!!func1() == !!func2()) ...

or "if (!func1() == !func2())".  I've done that before.

> But for most uses of _Bool, or bool, or even int used to hold logically
> Boolean values, it's easy enough to write your code in a way that (a) is
> straightforward, and (b) works correctly whether there are multiple true
> values or not.

I agree, but that is a skill that we had to learn _because_ C didn't
have a real boolean type.  Perhaps it was so long ago for you that you
don't remember it, but I do.  And it's an obvious source of bugs,
particularly when a function only rarely returns a value other than 1
for truth.

I prefer that the language match the meaning as closely as possible, so
that my code is self-documenting, which often happens to enable more
aggressive compiler optimization as a side effect.

Do you eschew unsigned types because signed ones are good enough and
_you_ know that a particular variable will never be negative, even if
the compiler doesn't?  No, because you're used to them and know that, in
certain cases, unsigned types work better.  I assert the same would be
true if you were used to having a true boolean type.

S

-- 
Stephen Sprunk         "God does not play dice."  --Albert Einstein
CCIE #3723         "God is an inveterate gambler, and He throws the
K5SSS        dice at every possible opportunity." --Stephen Hawking

Thread

About -lm switch used for linking math.h Avinash Sonawane <avinash.sonawane1990@gmail.com> - 2012-01-26 13:59 -0800
  Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2012-01-26 14:15 -0800
  Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h James Kuyper <jameskuyper@verizon.net> - 2012-01-26 17:17 -0500
    Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h Eric Sosman <esosman@ieee-dot-org.invalid> - 2012-01-26 20:54 -0500
    Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h Kaz Kylheku <kaz@kylheku.com> - 2012-01-27 02:12 +0000
  Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h jacob navia <jacob@spamsink.net> - 2012-01-26 23:29 +0100
  Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h Joe Pfeiffer <pfeiffer@cs.nmsu.edu> - 2012-01-26 23:09 -0700
    Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h jacob navia <jacob@spamsink.net> - 2012-01-27 08:37 +0100
    Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h gazelle@shell.xmission.com (Kenny McCormack) - 2012-01-27 09:48 +0000
      OT:Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h Kleuske <kleuske@nowhere.net> - 2012-01-27 10:15 +0000
        Re: OT:Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h gazelle@shell.xmission.com (Kenny McCormack) - 2012-01-27 14:43 +0000
          Re: OT:Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h tom st denis <tom@iahu.ca> - 2012-01-27 07:49 -0800
            Re: OT:Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h gazelle@shell.xmission.com (Kenny McCormack) - 2012-01-27 15:55 +0000
              Re: OT:Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h tom st denis <tom@iahu.ca> - 2012-01-27 10:14 -0800
            Re: OT:Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2012-01-27 11:23 -0800
          Re: OT:Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h Joe Pfeiffer <pfeiffer@cs.nmsu.edu> - 2012-01-27 09:42 -0700
            Re: OT:Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h 88888 Dihedral <dihedral88888@googlemail.com> - 2012-01-28 14:08 -0800
        Re: OT:Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h Phil Carmody <thefatphil_demunged@yahoo.co.uk> - 2012-02-14 13:14 +0200
      Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h Rui Maciel <rui.maciel@gmail.com> - 2012-01-27 16:56 +0000
        Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h gazelle@shell.xmission.com (Kenny McCormack) - 2012-01-27 17:34 +0000
          Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h Rui Maciel <rui.maciel@gmail.com> - 2012-01-27 17:50 +0000
          Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h Kaz Kylheku <kaz@kylheku.com> - 2012-01-27 17:58 +0000
            Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h tom st denis <tom@iahu.ca> - 2012-01-27 10:15 -0800
            Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h gazelle@shell.xmission.com (Kenny McCormack) - 2012-01-27 19:25 +0000
              Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h Kleuske <kleuske@nowhere.net> - 2012-01-28 18:09 +0000
            Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h jt@toerring.de (Jens Thoms Toerring) - 2012-01-27 21:32 +0000
    Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h "Wolfgang.Draxinger" <Wolfgang.Draxinger@physik.uni-muenchen.de> - 2012-01-27 12:40 +0100
      Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h "BartC" <bc@freeuk.com> - 2012-01-27 12:48 +0000
        Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2012-01-27 14:28 +0000
      Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h Kaz Kylheku <kaz@kylheku.com> - 2012-01-27 17:14 +0000
        Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h gazelle@shell.xmission.com (Kenny McCormack) - 2012-01-27 17:34 +0000
      Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h Joe Pfeiffer <pfeiffer@cs.nmsu.edu> - 2012-01-27 10:43 -0700
    Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h Stephen Sprunk <stephen@sprunk.org> - 2012-01-27 12:25 -0600
      Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h "BartC" <bc@freeuk.com> - 2012-01-27 18:41 +0000
        Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h James Kuyper <jameskuyper@verizon.net> - 2012-01-27 13:45 -0500
          Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2012-01-27 11:29 -0800
        Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h Jens Gustedt <jens.gustedt@loria.fr> - 2012-01-27 22:35 +0100
        Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h Stephen Sprunk <stephen@sprunk.org> - 2012-01-27 17:19 -0600
          Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h James Kuyper <jameskuyper@verizon.net> - 2012-01-27 19:22 -0500
            Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h Tim Rentsch <txr@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2012-01-31 23:32 -0800
          Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2012-01-27 16:26 -0800
            Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h Ian Collins <ian-news@hotmail.com> - 2012-01-28 13:30 +1300
              Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2012-01-27 17:04 -0800
                Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h Ian Collins <ian-news@hotmail.com> - 2012-01-28 14:10 +1300
                Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h Eric Sosman <esosman@ieee-dot-org.invalid> - 2012-01-27 21:06 -0500
                Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2012-01-27 20:09 -0800
                Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2012-01-27 20:15 -0800
              Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h Stephen Sprunk <stephen@sprunk.org> - 2012-01-27 23:03 -0600
                Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h Ian Collins <ian-news@hotmail.com> - 2012-01-28 19:10 +1300
                Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h Malcolm McLean <malcolm.mclean5@btinternet.com> - 2012-01-28 04:28 -0800
                Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h Stephen Sprunk <stephen@sprunk.org> - 2012-01-28 15:25 -0600
                Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h Ian Collins <ian-news@hotmail.com> - 2012-01-29 11:39 +1300
                Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h Nick Keighley <nick_keighley_nospam@hotmail.com> - 2012-01-29 09:53 -0800
                Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h Jorgen Grahn <grahn+nntp@snipabacken.se> - 2012-02-03 10:39 +0000
                Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h Joshua Maurice <joshuamaurice@gmail.com> - 2012-02-01 16:42 -0800
                Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h jgk@panix.com (Joe keane) - 2012-02-02 01:29 +0000
                Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2012-01-28 15:22 -0800
                Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h Stephen Sprunk <stephen@sprunk.org> - 2012-01-29 16:52 -0600
                Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2012-01-30 02:04 -0800
                Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h Ike Naar <ike@iceland.freeshell.org> - 2012-01-30 10:22 +0000
                Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2012-01-30 02:36 -0800
                Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h Phil Carmody <thefatphil_demunged@yahoo.co.uk> - 2012-02-14 13:33 +0200
                Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h Ike Naar <ike@iceland.freeshell.org> - 2012-02-14 23:48 +0000
                Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2012-02-14 16:35 -0800
                Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h Phil Carmody <thefatphil_demunged@yahoo.co.uk> - 2012-02-22 02:44 +0200
                Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h Malcolm McLean <malcolm.mclean5@btinternet.com> - 2012-01-30 04:30 -0800
                Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2012-01-30 14:36 +0000
                Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h Tim Rentsch <txr@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2012-01-31 23:50 -0800
                Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2012-01-28 15:29 -0800
                Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h Malcolm McLean <malcolm.mclean5@btinternet.com> - 2012-01-29 09:11 -0800
                Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h "BartC" <bc@freeuk.com> - 2012-01-29 17:49 +0000
                Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h Malcolm McLean <malcolm.mclean5@btinternet.com> - 2012-01-29 10:07 -0800
                Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2012-01-29 14:24 -0800
                Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h Nick Keighley <nick_keighley_nospam@hotmail.com> - 2012-01-29 09:43 -0800
            Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2012-01-27 16:54 -0800
              Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h Kaz Kylheku <kaz@kylheku.com> - 2012-01-28 01:09 +0000
                Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h Ian Collins <ian-news@hotmail.com> - 2012-01-28 14:20 +1300
                Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h Azazel <azazel@remove.azazel.net> - 2012-01-30 17:40 -0600
                Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h Kaz Kylheku <kaz@kylheku.com> - 2012-01-31 00:05 +0000
    Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h jgk@panix.com (Joe keane) - 2012-01-27 20:03 +0000
      Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h Malcolm McLean <malcolm.mclean5@btinternet.com> - 2012-01-27 12:26 -0800
        Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h Ian Collins <ian-news@hotmail.com> - 2012-01-28 10:24 +1300
          Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h "BartC" <bc@freeuk.com> - 2012-01-27 21:32 +0000
            Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h James Kuyper <jameskuyper@verizon.net> - 2012-01-27 16:39 -0500
            Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h Robert Wessel <robertwessel2@yahoo.com> - 2012-01-27 23:24 -0600
              Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h Ian Collins <ian-news@hotmail.com> - 2012-01-28 20:38 +1300
                Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h Robert Wessel <robertwessel2@yahoo.com> - 2012-01-28 02:17 -0600
              Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h Richard Damon <news.x.richarddamon@xoxy.net> - 2012-01-28 14:07 -0500
                Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h Robert Wessel <robertwessel2@yahoo.com> - 2012-01-28 15:07 -0600
        Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h jgk@panix.com (Joe keane) - 2012-01-28 21:09 +0000
      Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h Joe Pfeiffer <pfeiffer@cs.nmsu.edu> - 2012-01-27 21:39 -0700
        Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2012-01-28 11:21 +0000
          Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h Joe Pfeiffer <pfeiffer@cs.nmsu.edu> - 2012-01-28 17:51 -0700
            Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2012-01-29 02:03 +0000
      Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h Kaz Kylheku <kaz@kylheku.com> - 2012-01-28 18:58 +0000
        Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h jacob navia <jacob@spamsink.net> - 2012-01-28 20:48 +0100
          Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h Robert Wessel <robertwessel2@yahoo.com> - 2012-01-28 22:54 -0600
      Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h jgk@panix.com (Joe keane) - 2012-01-29 21:42 +0000
        Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h Robert Wessel <robertwessel2@yahoo.com> - 2012-01-30 00:14 -0600
  Re: About -lm switch used for linking math.h Stephen Sprunk <stephen@sprunk.org> - 2012-01-27 11:12 -0600

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