Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!crdgw1!camelback!volpe
From: volpe@camelback.crd.ge.com (Christopher R Volpe)
Newsgroups: comp.std.c
Subject: Definition of "conforming"
Message-ID: <18160@crdgw1.crd.ge.com>
Date: 2 Apr 91 20:22:33 GMT
Sender: news@crdgw1.crd.ge.com
Reply-To: volpe@camelback.crd.ge.com (Christopher R Volpe)
Organization: General Electric Corporate R&D
Lines: 30

Here's an interesting question on terminology. Section 1.7 states
that "A conforming program is one that is acceptable to a conforming
implementation." Now, does that mean that THERE MUST EXIST at least
one conforming implementation that accepts it, or that it is possible
that an implementation accept it and still be conforming? (I assume that
"accept" means "generate code without issuing any diagnostics", otherwise
any program could be a conforming program)

For example, suppose when given the following program

         #include <stdio.h>
         int main(void)
         { 
            printf("Hello world\n\n\n\n");
            return 0;
         }

every compiler in existance outputted a diagnostic:
"foo.c: Warning: Your fly is open"

Would this program be non-conforming because no compiler accepts it?
Or would it be conforming because it's *possible* for a conforming
implementation to accept it?

Just curious...

==================
Chris Volpe
G.E. Corporate R&D
volpecr@crd.ge.com