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Re: Why _Bool was not defined as enum in C99?

From David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no>
Newsgroups comp.lang.c
Subject Re: Why _Bool was not defined as enum in C99?
Date 2016-09-16 20:51 +0200
Organization A noiseless patient Spider
Message-ID <nrheui$19f$1@dont-email.me> (permalink)
References (7 earlier) <e3ul6kF1l4bU2@mid.individual.net> <nrdu54$2ii$1@dont-email.me> <kfnsht1gg2n.fsf@x-alumni2.alumni.caltech.edu> <nrg9tf$vqr$1@dont-email.me> <kfn37kzhojo.fsf@x-alumni2.alumni.caltech.edu>

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On 16/09/16 17:06, Tim Rentsch wrote:
> David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> writes:
>
>> On 15/09/16 20:42, Tim Rentsch wrote:
>>> David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> writes:
>>>
>>>> [...]
>>>>
>>>> And it is usually not hard to write code that is valid C, and valid C++,
>>>> and not /too/ strange for either language.  [...]
>>>
>>> I disagree.  This can be true for small examples or certain
>>> limited contexts, but it is not true for any significant
>>> body of code.
>>
>> Code like this will often look strange for C++ code, but that is
>> primarily because you are not using common features of C++ code
>> (classes, namespaces, templates, etc.), rather than because you are
>> using the common C/C++ subset in a strange way.  But IME it will seldom
>> look very strange when viewed as C code.
>>
>> However, you don't normally have to write a lot of code that can be
>> compiled as C and C++ - usually it is restricted to headers.
>
> My comment was meant in the context of writing .c files, not only
> function headers.  If all one is writing is function prototypes
> then it is pretty easy to write code in the intersection of C and
> C++.  My comment though was meant more generally, since what the
> OP is asking about encompasses source code at the .c level, not
> only headers.
>
>> I have had occasion to write code for customers which they wanted to be
>> both C and C++ compatible - it was not a difficult requirement, and it
>> did not lead to unusual or idiosyncratic code.
>
> It is possible to write C code that is also C++ code in much the
> same way that it is possible to write English prose that doesn't
> have any "j"'s in it.  It may even look perfectly ordinary -
> consider as an example my last paragraph.  However it is extra
> effort to do so:  while writing this paragraph I had to go back
> and change two occurrences of "just" to "only" so there wouldn't
> be any "j"'s.  And the result of that change is that it reads
> (IMO) a little worse than the original.  There is an analogous
> effect with code in the C/C++ intersection, except there I think
> it's worse than simply leaving out "j"'s in English.
>
>> To be fair, when I have written such code, it has been in small (or
>> "resource constrained") embedded systems.  For example, casting void*
>> pointers before assignment was not an issue - they are very rare in such
>> code.  malloc() and friends are typically banned anyway.
>
> I imagine there were other consequences as well, but I won't
> ask about those since it's tangential to the area I mean
> to address.
>
>>> (I note that the original message went on to some particular
>>> details, and those comments refine the general statement
>>> above.  I'm not offering any comments on the details, and
>>> may agree (or not) on some of those.  But as a general
>>> blanket statement IMO the statement above is just wrong.)
>>
>> Can you give an example (obviously a short one) of code written in
>> "C/C++" that you think would be particularly strange or unusual when
>> viewed as C code?
>
> I wrote a short example (which I will describe but not post) of a
> way to do runtime polymorphism for this very thread.  After I had
> written it I realized it wasn't suitable for the OP's needs (or
> at least what were thought to be needs) because my C code would
> not compile as C++.  The .h file, that was no problem.  The .c
> file, blammo!  Roughly 30% of the lines had incompatibilities.
> These fell into three categories:  void *, compound literals, and
> designated initializers.  (It's possible there were other
> problems but those are the ones I remember.)  Now of course it
> is possible to work around all of these, but it's a big pain in
> the you-know-where.  For me it is simply above threshold, like
> trying to write in C90 again - it isn't that I can't do it, but
> it's not natural, and certainly isn't merely a minor adjustment.
>

I think it is a shame that compound literals and designated initializers 
are not valid in C++.  However, I think it must be highly unusual to 
have such a large proportion of your C code using those features - it is 
perhaps just the luck of this particular programming task.  For my own 
part, I used these features occasionally - but not nearly so much that 
it would be a noticeable issue.  (Also, I might cheat a little in this 
case - the C++ compilers I use would accept compound literals as an 
extension.)

I know that the way you and I write our C code is noticeably different - 
there are a number of features that we use in different proportions. 
Perhaps I can simply say that when /I/ write C code, there is little 
difference if it is written to be C++ compatible, but that this may not 
apply to everyone's C code, and it may not apply to equally to all types 
of C code or all programming tasks.

As another point, however, for people programming C on Windows it is 
quite popular to use MSVC in C++ mode to compiler their C.  Such 
developers seem to manage fine, and don't find the compatibility issues 
limiting.

> By the way, I tried to write the text new in this posting
> without any "j"'s, but one crept in there right at the end
> in "adjustment" (and after I had already changed a "just" to
> "merely"... oh well).  :)
>

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Thread

Why _Bool was not defined as enum in C99? thiago.adams@gmail.com - 2016-09-12 13:24 -0700
  Re: Why _Bool was not defined as enum in C99? Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2016-09-12 21:56 +0100
    Re: Why _Bool was not defined as enum in C99? Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2016-09-12 15:59 -0700
    Re: Why _Bool was not defined as enum in C99? Tim Rentsch <txr@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2016-09-13 16:05 -0700
      Re: Why _Bool was not defined as enum in C99? Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2016-09-13 18:17 -0700
        Re: Why _Bool was not defined as enum in C99? Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2016-09-14 01:20 +0100
        Re: Why _Bool was not defined as enum in C99? Tim Rentsch <txr@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2016-09-14 03:59 -0700
        Re: Why _Bool was not defined as enum in C99? Nobody <nobody@nowhere.invalid> - 2016-09-14 17:31 +0100
          Re: Why _Bool was not defined as enum in C99? Thiago Adams <thiago.adams@gmail.com> - 2016-09-14 09:49 -0700
            Re: Why _Bool was not defined as enum in C99? Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2016-09-14 11:45 -0700
        Re: Why _Bool was not defined as enum in C99? <william@wilbur.25thandClement.com> - 2016-09-14 14:13 -0700
          Re: Why _Bool was not defined as enum in C99? Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2016-09-14 16:26 -0700
  Re: Why _Bool was not defined as enum in C99? "James R. Kuyper" <jameskuyper@verizon.net> - 2016-09-12 17:11 -0400
  Re: Why _Bool was not defined as enum in C99? Tim Rentsch <txr@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2016-09-13 15:55 -0700
    Re: Why _Bool was not defined as enum in C99? Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2016-09-13 18:08 -0700
      Re: Why _Bool was not defined as enum in C99? Tim Rentsch <txr@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2016-09-14 03:56 -0700
        Re: Why _Bool was not defined as enum in C99? supercat@casperkitty.com - 2016-09-14 07:58 -0700
          Re: Why _Bool was not defined as enum in C99? Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2016-09-14 19:39 +0100
            Re: Why _Bool was not defined as enum in C99? Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2016-09-14 13:52 -0700
              Re: Why _Bool was not defined as enum in C99? Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2016-09-15 00:53 +0100
                Re: Why _Bool was not defined as enum in C99? supercat@casperkitty.com - 2016-09-14 17:04 -0700
                Re: Why _Bool was not defined as enum in C99? Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2016-09-14 20:52 -0700
                Re: Why _Bool was not defined as enum in C99? supercat@casperkitty.com - 2016-09-14 19:26 -0700
                Re: Why _Bool was not defined as enum in C99? Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2016-09-14 19:04 -0700
            Re: Why _Bool was not defined as enum in C99? supercat@casperkitty.com - 2016-09-14 14:21 -0700
              Re: Why _Bool was not defined as enum in C99? Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2016-09-14 16:23 -0700
                Re: Why _Bool was not defined as enum in C99? supercat@casperkitty.com - 2016-09-14 17:06 -0700
                Re: Why _Bool was not defined as enum in C99? Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2016-09-14 20:45 -0700
                Re: Why _Bool was not defined as enum in C99? Jerry Stuckle <jstucklex@attglobal.net> - 2016-09-14 22:12 -0400
                Re: Why _Bool was not defined as enum in C99? David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2016-09-15 12:37 +0200
                Re: Why _Bool was not defined as enum in C99? supercat@casperkitty.com - 2016-09-15 09:35 -0700
                Re: Why _Bool was not defined as enum in C99? David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2016-09-16 00:47 +0200
                Re: Why _Bool was not defined as enum in C99? supercat@casperkitty.com - 2016-09-15 22:02 -0700
                Re: Why _Bool was not defined as enum in C99? David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2016-09-16 09:56 +0200
                Re: Why _Bool was not defined as enum in C99? supercat@casperkitty.com - 2016-09-16 07:34 -0700
                Re: Why _Bool was not defined as enum in C99? David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2016-09-16 20:31 +0200
                Re: Why _Bool was not defined as enum in C99? supercat@casperkitty.com - 2016-09-16 12:32 -0700
                Re: Why _Bool was not defined as enum in C99? David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2016-09-17 23:30 +0200
                Re: Why _Bool was not defined as enum in C99? BartC <bc@freeuk.com> - 2016-09-15 18:25 +0100
                Re: Why _Bool was not defined as enum in C99? luser droog <luser.droog@gmail.com> - 2016-09-15 12:35 -0700
                Re: Why _Bool was not defined as enum in C99? David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2016-09-16 00:51 +0200
                Re: Why _Bool was not defined as enum in C99? luser droog <luser.droog@gmail.com> - 2016-09-16 17:02 -0700
                Re: Why _Bool was not defined as enum in C99? Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2016-09-16 19:23 -0700
                Re: Why _Bool was not defined as enum in C99? David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2016-09-17 23:35 +0200
        Re: Why _Bool was not defined as enum in C99? Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2016-09-14 10:40 -0700
          Re: Why _Bool was not defined as enum in C99? Thiago Adams <thiago.adams@gmail.com> - 2016-09-14 10:01 -0700
            Re: Why _Bool was not defined as enum in C99? supercat@casperkitty.com - 2016-09-14 11:35 -0700
              Re: Why _Bool was not defined as enum in C99? Jerry Stuckle <jstucklex@attglobal.net> - 2016-09-14 22:15 -0400
                Re: Why _Bool was not defined as enum in C99? supercat@casperkitty.com - 2016-09-14 23:51 -0700
                Re: Why _Bool was not defined as enum in C99? Jerry Stuckle <jstucklex@attglobal.net> - 2016-09-15 15:14 -0400
              Re: Why _Bool was not defined as enum in C99? Ian Collins <ian-news@hotmail.com> - 2016-09-15 16:08 +1200
                Re: Why _Bool was not defined as enum in C99? David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2016-09-15 12:46 +0200
                Re: Why _Bool was not defined as enum in C99? supercat@casperkitty.com - 2016-09-15 09:37 -0700
                Re: Why _Bool was not defined as enum in C99? David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2016-09-16 00:53 +0200
                Re: Why _Bool was not defined as enum in C99? supercat@casperkitty.com - 2016-09-15 21:45 -0700
                Re: Why _Bool was not defined as enum in C99? Richard Heathfield <rjh@cpax.org.uk> - 2016-09-16 06:32 +0100
                Re: Why _Bool was not defined as enum in C99? David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2016-09-16 09:59 +0200
                Re: Why _Bool was not defined as enum in C99? Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2016-09-16 11:00 +0100
                Re: Why _Bool was not defined as enum in C99? Thiago Adams <thiago.adams@gmail.com> - 2016-09-16 04:46 -0700
                Re: Why _Bool was not defined as enum in C99? Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2016-09-16 12:58 +0100
                Re: Why _Bool was not defined as enum in C99? Melzzzzz <Melzzzzz@zzzzz.com> - 2016-09-16 12:06 +0000
                Re: Why _Bool was not defined as enum in C99? Thiago Adams <thiago.adams@gmail.com> - 2016-09-16 05:13 -0700
                Re: Why _Bool was not defined as enum in C99? Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2016-09-16 10:47 -0700
                Re: Why _Bool was not defined as enum in C99? Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2016-09-16 10:46 -0700
                Re: Why _Bool was not defined as enum in C99? David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2016-09-16 10:02 +0200
                Re: Why _Bool was not defined as enum in C99? Tim Rentsch <txr@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2016-09-15 11:42 -0700
                Re: Why _Bool was not defined as enum in C99? David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2016-09-16 10:19 +0200
                Re: Why _Bool was not defined as enum in C99? Tim Rentsch <txr@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2016-09-16 08:06 -0700
                Re: Why _Bool was not defined as enum in C99? David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2016-09-16 20:51 +0200
                Re: Why _Bool was not defined as enum in C99? Thiago Adams <thiago.adams@gmail.com> - 2016-09-16 11:56 -0700
                Re: Why _Bool was not defined as enum in C99? Tim Rentsch <txr@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2016-09-22 22:38 -0700
          Re: Why _Bool was not defined as enum in C99? Tim Rentsch <txr@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2016-09-14 11:42 -0700
            Re: Why _Bool was not defined as enum in C99? Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2016-09-14 14:02 -0700
              Re: Why _Bool was not defined as enum in C99? Tim Rentsch <txr@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2016-09-15 10:51 -0700
                Re: Why _Bool was not defined as enum in C99? supercat@casperkitty.com - 2016-09-15 11:18 -0700
                Re: Why _Bool was not defined as enum in C99? Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2016-09-15 13:46 -0700
                Re: Why _Bool was not defined as enum in C99? supercat@casperkitty.com - 2016-09-15 13:10 -0700
                Re: Why _Bool was not defined as enum in C99? Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2016-09-15 16:01 -0700
                Re: Why _Bool was not defined as enum in C99? Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2016-09-15 13:40 -0700
                Re: Why _Bool was not defined as enum in C99? Tim Rentsch <txr@alumni.caltech.edu> - 2016-09-16 07:21 -0700
                Re: Why _Bool was not defined as enum in C99? Thiago Adams <thiago.adams@gmail.com> - 2016-09-16 07:37 -0700
                Re: Why _Bool was not defined as enum in C99? David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2016-09-16 20:55 +0200
                Re: Why _Bool was not defined as enum in C99? Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2016-09-16 14:43 -0700
                Re: Why _Bool was not defined as enum in C99? supercat@casperkitty.com - 2016-09-16 15:36 -0700
                Re: Why _Bool was not defined as enum in C99? David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2016-09-17 23:45 +0200
                Re: Why _Bool was not defined as enum in C99? Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2016-09-17 17:14 -0700

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