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Groups > comp.lang.c > #61998

Re: Sequence points and commit to memory

From Stephen Sprunk <stephen@sprunk.org>
Newsgroups comp.lang.c
Subject Re: Sequence points and commit to memory
Date 2015-05-14 09:06 -0500
Organization A noiseless patient Spider
Message-ID <mj2a38$8bj$1@dont-email.me> (permalink)
References <mj1u70$r5d$1@dont-email.me>

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On 14-May-15 05:43, James Harris wrote:
> I was looking for guarantees about updates reaching memory so that
> they would be visible to an interrupt handling function. When I speak
> about writes to memory they would not have had to have reached RAM.
> Storage in cache would be OK.
> 
> How about:
> 
> u = 0;
> f();
> 
> Is u guaranteed to have been written to memory before function f is 
> called? Does f need to be in a different translation unit to force
> prior commits to memory (so that pointers to their values are
> valid)?

There is no guarantee that u will _ever_ be written to memory, or even
that a specific location in memory is reserved to hold it!

You are forgetting what is probably the single most important part in
the C standard: the implementation can do whatever it wants to do under
the hood as long as a conforming program can't tell the difference vs
what the Standard prescribes.  This is known as the "as if" rule.

One of the consequences of this is that when you invoke Undefined
Behavior, you may end up seeing things that do _not_ behave as you
expect them to, such as a variable not being updated in RAM after you
assign a value to it, even after a sequence point.

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

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Thread

Sequence points and commit to memory "James Harris" <james.harris.1@gmail.com> - 2015-05-14 11:43 +0100
  Re: Sequence points and commit to memory Richard Heathfield <rjh@cpax.org.uk> - 2015-05-14 12:02 +0100
    Re: Sequence points and commit to memory David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2015-05-14 13:39 +0200
      Re: Sequence points and commit to memory Richard Heathfield <rjh@cpax.org.uk> - 2015-05-14 13:18 +0100
        Re: Sequence points and commit to memory David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2015-05-14 23:11 +0200
  Re: Sequence points and commit to memory Stephen Sprunk <stephen@sprunk.org> - 2015-05-14 09:06 -0500
  Re: Sequence points and commit to memory Siri Cruz <chine.bleu@yahoo.com> - 2015-05-14 08:35 -0700
    Re: Sequence points and commit to memory David Kleinecke <dkleinecke@gmail.com> - 2015-05-14 10:23 -0700
      Re: Sequence points and commit to memory Siri Cruz <chine.bleu@yahoo.com> - 2015-05-14 10:44 -0700
        Re: Sequence points and commit to memory David Kleinecke <dkleinecke@gmail.com> - 2015-05-14 11:09 -0700
          Re: Sequence points and commit to memory Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2015-05-14 12:58 -0700
          Re: Sequence points and commit to memory Morris Dovey <mrdovey@iedu.com> - 2015-05-14 16:31 -0500
            Re: Sequence points and commit to memory Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2015-05-14 17:24 -0700
              Re: Sequence points and commit to memory Morris Dovey <mrdovey@iedu.com> - 2015-05-14 20:18 -0500
                Re: Sequence points and commit to memory David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2015-05-15 09:34 +0200
                Re: Sequence points and commit to memory Morris Dovey <mrdovey@iedu.com> - 2015-05-15 10:18 -0500
                Re: 'register' attribute (was: Sequence points and commit to memory) Morris Dovey <mrdovey@iedu.com> - 2015-05-16 01:26 -0500
                Re: 'register' attribute David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2015-05-17 00:02 +0200
                Re: 'register' attribute Morris Dovey <mrdovey@iedu.com> - 2015-05-16 19:29 -0500
            Re: Sequence points and commit to memory David Kleinecke <dkleinecke@gmail.com> - 2015-05-15 09:52 -0700
              Re: Sequence points and commit to memory James Kuyper <jameskuyper@verizon.net> - 2015-05-15 13:27 -0400
                Re: Sequence points and commit to memory Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2015-05-15 10:50 -0700
              Re: Sequence points and commit to memory Morris Dovey <mrdovey@iedu.com> - 2015-05-15 12:32 -0500
      Re: Sequence points and commit to memory David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2015-05-14 23:23 +0200
        Re: Sequence points and commit to memory David Kleinecke <dkleinecke@gmail.com> - 2015-05-15 09:42 -0700
          Re: Sequence points and commit to memory James Kuyper <jameskuyper@verizon.net> - 2015-05-15 13:13 -0400
            Re: Sequence points and commit to memory David Kleinecke <dkleinecke@gmail.com> - 2015-05-16 08:32 -0700
          Re: Sequence points and commit to memory Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2015-05-15 10:35 -0700
          Re: Sequence points and commit to memory Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2015-05-15 11:08 -0700
            Re: Sequence points and commit to memory Robert Wessel <robertwessel2@yahoo.com> - 2015-05-15 16:40 -0500
            Re: Sequence points and commit to memory David Kleinecke <dkleinecke@gmail.com> - 2015-05-16 08:48 -0700
          Re: Sequence points and commit to memory "James Harris" <james.harris.1@gmail.com> - 2015-05-15 21:46 +0100
            Re: Sequence points and commit to memory David Kleinecke <dkleinecke@gmail.com> - 2015-05-16 08:56 -0700
              Re: Sequence points and commit to memory "James Harris" <james.harris.1@gmail.com> - 2015-05-16 19:35 +0100
                Re: Sequence points and commit to memory David Kleinecke <dkleinecke@gmail.com> - 2015-05-18 09:49 -0700
                Re: Sequence points and commit to memory "James Harris" <james.harris.1@gmail.com> - 2015-05-19 09:04 +0100
                Re: Sequence points and commit to memory Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2015-05-19 08:42 -0700
    Re: Sequence points and commit to memory "James Harris" <james.harris.1@gmail.com> - 2015-05-14 22:00 +0100
      Re: Sequence points and commit to memory Siri Cruz <chine.bleu@yahoo.com> - 2015-05-14 14:26 -0700
        Re: Sequence points and commit to memory "James Harris" <james.harris.1@gmail.com> - 2015-05-14 22:33 +0100
      Re: Sequence points and commit to memory David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2015-05-14 23:38 +0200
        Re: Sequence points and commit to memory "James Harris" <james.harris.1@gmail.com> - 2015-05-14 23:04 +0100
          Re: Sequence points and commit to memory Stephen Sprunk <stephen@sprunk.org> - 2015-05-15 13:09 -0500
            Re: Sequence points and commit to memory "James Harris" <james.harris.1@gmail.com> - 2015-05-15 21:56 +0100
              Re: Sequence points and commit to memory James Kuyper <jameskuyper@verizon.net> - 2015-05-15 17:30 -0400
                Re: Sequence points and commit to memory "James Harris" <james.harris.1@gmail.com> - 2015-05-16 07:51 +0100
                Re: Sequence points and commit to memory James Kuyper <jameskuyper@verizon.net> - 2015-05-16 22:10 -0400
                Re: Sequence points and commit to memory David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2015-05-19 00:25 +0200
                Re: Sequence points and commit to memory James Kuyper <jameskuyper@verizon.net> - 2015-05-18 18:55 -0400
                Re: Sequence points and commit to memory David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2015-05-19 09:10 +0200
                Re: Sequence points and commit to memory James Kuyper <jameskuyper@verizon.net> - 2015-05-19 12:05 -0400
                Re: Sequence points and commit to memory David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2015-05-19 18:42 +0200
              Re: Sequence points and commit to memory Stephen Sprunk <stephen@sprunk.org> - 2015-05-16 16:33 -0500
                Re: Sequence points and commit to memory David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2015-05-19 00:27 +0200
                Re: Sequence points and commit to memory James Kuyper <jameskuyper@verizon.net> - 2015-05-18 19:05 -0400
                Re: Sequence points and commit to memory glen herrmannsfeldt <gah@ugcs.caltech.edu> - 2015-05-19 00:09 +0000
                Re: Sequence points and commit to memory Richard Heathfield <rjh@cpax.org.uk> - 2015-05-19 01:11 +0100
                Re: Sequence points and commit to memory Tim Rentsch <txr@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2015-05-23 07:02 -0700
                Re: Sequence points and commit to memory James Kuyper <jameskuyper@verizon.net> - 2015-05-18 23:21 -0400
                Re: Sequence points and commit to memory glen herrmannsfeldt <gah@ugcs.caltech.edu> - 2015-05-19 06:25 +0000
                Re: Sequence points and commit to memory David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2015-05-19 08:58 +0200
                Re: Sequence points and commit to memory glen herrmannsfeldt <gah@ugcs.caltech.edu> - 2015-05-19 23:20 +0000
                Re: Sequence points and commit to memory David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2015-05-20 12:31 +0200
                Re: Sequence points and commit to memory James Kuyper <jameskuyper@verizon.net> - 2015-05-19 12:10 -0400
                Re: Sequence points and commit to memory glen herrmannsfeldt <gah@ugcs.caltech.edu> - 2015-05-19 23:24 +0000
                Re: Sequence points and commit to memory David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2015-05-19 09:05 +0200
                Re: Sequence points and commit to memory Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2015-05-19 08:37 -0700
                Re: Sequence points and commit to memory James Kuyper <jameskuyper@verizon.net> - 2015-05-19 12:14 -0400
                Re: Sequence points and commit to memory David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2015-05-19 19:02 +0200
            Re: Sequence points and commit to memory Robert Wessel <robertwessel2@yahoo.com> - 2015-05-15 16:46 -0500
          Re: Sequence points and commit to memory David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2015-05-17 00:20 +0200
            Re: Sequence points and commit to memory "James Harris" <james.harris.1@gmail.com> - 2015-05-17 18:19 +0100
              Re: Sequence points and commit to memory Philip Lantz <prl@canterey.us> - 2015-05-17 16:11 -0700
                Re: Sequence points and commit to memory "James Harris" <james.harris.1@gmail.com> - 2015-05-18 08:30 +0100
                Re: Sequence points and commit to memory David Kleinecke <dkleinecke@gmail.com> - 2015-05-18 10:31 -0700
                Re: Sequence points and commit to memory Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2015-05-18 11:11 -0700
                Re: Sequence points and commit to memory David Kleinecke <dkleinecke@gmail.com> - 2015-05-19 09:37 -0700
                Re: Sequence points and commit to memory Ian Collins <ian-news@hotmail.com> - 2015-05-19 17:40 +1200
                Re: Sequence points and commit to memory Morris Dovey <mrdovey@iedu.com> - 2015-05-19 01:31 -0500
                Re: Sequence points and commit to memory Ian Collins <ian-news@hotmail.com> - 2015-05-19 20:38 +1200
                Re: Sequence points and commit to memory Morris Dovey <mrdovey@iedu.com> - 2015-05-19 10:50 -0500
                Re: Sequence points and commit to memory David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2015-05-19 00:46 +0200
              Re: Sequence points and commit to memory David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2015-05-19 00:35 +0200
      Re: Sequence points and commit to memory Robert Wessel <robertwessel2@yahoo.com> - 2015-05-15 16:42 -0500
        Re: Sequence points and commit to memory "James Harris" <james.harris.1@gmail.com> - 2015-05-16 07:58 +0100
          Re: Sequence points and commit to memory Robert Wessel <robertwessel2@yahoo.com> - 2015-05-16 02:18 -0500
            Re: Sequence points and commit to memory "James Harris" <james.harris.1@gmail.com> - 2015-05-16 08:36 +0100
              Re: Sequence points and commit to memory Robert Wessel <robertwessel2@yahoo.com> - 2015-05-17 04:31 -0500
                Re: Sequence points and commit to memory "James Harris" <james.harris.1@gmail.com> - 2015-05-17 18:24 +0100
                Re: Sequence points and commit to memory David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2015-05-19 00:55 +0200
  Re: Sequence points and commit to memory Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2015-05-14 11:26 -0700
    Re: Sequence points and commit to memory "James Harris" <james.harris.1@gmail.com> - 2015-05-14 22:07 +0100
      Re: Sequence points and commit to memory Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2015-05-14 14:22 -0700
        Re: Sequence points and commit to memory "James Harris" <james.harris.1@gmail.com> - 2015-05-14 22:36 +0100
    Re: Sequence points and commit to memory Tim Rentsch <txr@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2015-05-22 08:16 -0700
      Re: Sequence points and commit to memory Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2015-05-22 11:31 -0700
  Re: Sequence points and commit to memory James Kuyper <jameskuyper@verizon.net> - 2015-05-15 00:05 -0400
    Re: Sequence points and commit to memory "James Harris" <james.harris.1@gmail.com> - 2015-05-15 22:25 +0100
      Re: Sequence points and commit to memory James Kuyper <jameskuyper@verizon.net> - 2015-05-15 17:56 -0400
  Re: Sequence points and commit to memory Nobody <nobody@nowhere.invalid> - 2015-05-17 10:04 +0100
  Re: Sequence points and commit to memory Tim Rentsch <txr@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2015-05-24 08:11 -0700

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