Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!mnetor!seismo!rochester!pt.cs.cmu.edu!ius2.cs.cmu.edu!edw
From: edw@ius2.cs.cmu.edu (Eddie Wyatt)
Newsgroups: comp.lang.c
Subject: Re: Standard int sizes
Message-ID: <1098@ius2.cs.cmu.edu>
Date: Sun, 12-Apr-87 14:36:24 EST
Article-I.D.: ius2.1098
Posted: Sun Apr 12 14:36:24 1987
Date-Received: Sun, 19-Apr-87 09:37:05 EST
References: <6759@brl-adm.ARPA> <230@ems.UUCP> <170@vianet.UUCP> <5744@brl-smoke.ARPA>
Organization: Carnegie-Mellon University, CS/RI
Lines: 38

In article <5744@brl-smoke.ARPA>, gwyn@brl-smoke.ARPA (Doug Gwyn ) writes:
> In article <170@vianet.UUCP> devine@vianet.UUCP (Bob Devine) writes:
> > ...  That is, if you need a 16 bit arithmetic type, use:
> >
> > If "machine has compiler that uses 16 bits for 'short'"
> > #define int16  short
> >
> > If "machine has compiler that uses 16 bits for 'int'"
> > #define int16  int
> 
> If you simply need at least 16 bits in a signed integer data type,
> use "short".  That way whoever reads the code doesn't have to learn
> what your invention "int16" means.

   For one, the mnemonics to int16 are clear - A data object of at 
least 16 bits.

   Second and most important - shorts are NOT guaranteed to be 16 bits.
Someone else correct me if I am wrong but you are only guaranteed:

	sizeof(short) <= sizeof(int) <= sizeof(long).

And there C implentations that use another size for short other than 16
bits (2 bytes).

-- 
					Eddie Wyatt

They say there are strangers, who threaten us
In our immigrants and infidels
They say there is strangeness, too dangerous
In our theatres and bookstore shelves
Those who know what's best for us-
Must rise and save us from ourselves

Quick to judge ... Quick to anger ... Slow to understand...
Ignorance and prejudice and fear [all] Walk hand in hand.
					- RUSH