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From: shaun@buengc.UUCP
Newsgroups: comp.lang.c
Subject: Re: Standard int sizes
Message-ID: <103@buengc.BU.EDU>
Date: Wed, 15-Apr-87 17:01:30 EST
Article-I.D.: buengc.103
Posted: Wed Apr 15 17:01:30 1987
Date-Received: Fri, 17-Apr-87 03:42:06 EST
References: <6759@brl-adm.ARPA> <230@ems.UUCP> <170@vianet.UUCP> <3286@pogo.TEK.COM>
Distribution: na
Organization: Boston U. Engineering Dept.
Lines: 9
Keywords: int, short
Summary: where's the standard?  why not be more descriptive

It is clear that there is no standard length for int.  It is also good to
tell how much range you need for a variable because it helps the code be
self documenting.  Studies of values used in programs shows that most are very
small with 0 and 1 predominating.  These small values can be given their own
special arithmetic instructions that take only one fetch (incr is obvious).
Compilers could do a better job if they knew down to the byte what size is
needed even considering that the ALU doesn't care. The only portability
problem I had with my last large C program was differing interpretations
of int (VAX to IBM-PC).  -Shaun  (int4, int8, int_time_to_transubstantiate)