Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!seismo!sundc!pitstop!sun!amdcad!ames!lll-tis!lll-lcc!ptsfa!nonvon!gilsys!mc68020
From: mc68020@gilsys.UUCP (Thomas J Keller)
Newsgroups: comp.lang.c
Subject: MAJOR ANSI C FLAW (my opinion, of course)
Message-ID: <1132@gilsys.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 6-Oct-87 11:28:04 EDT
Article-I.D.: gilsys.1132
Posted: Tue Oct  6 11:28:04 1987
Date-Received: Sun, 11-Oct-87 14:24:09 EDT
Organization: Consequently Computers, Santa Rosa, Ca
Lines: 38
Keywords: external names, length, bogosity to the max


   Alright, so here I am reading an article in Dr. Dobbs on the new ANSI C
standard.  Things are looking very nice.  Function prototyping looks WONDERFUL,
all identifiers with a leading '_' are reserved, 31 character double case
identifier significance for INTERNAL names...and:

	   ******  S  I  X  ******  character double case external names!!!!!!


    OK, I'll admit, these are the MINIMUM requirements.  Even so, I note that
the minimums for almost everything involved are quite large (31 char internals,
257 cases in switch, 509 chars/logical source line, etc., etc.), while the
external name minimum is the same old brain-damaged, hair-pulling, mind-
wrenching 6.
    
    I want to know which compiler vendor had enough power to force this pile
of BULL**T down the committee's throats??????

    So quite a few vendors opt for the minimums, while others opt for more
reasonable numbers.  There goes your portability!

    Argument:  but if you stick to the minimums, your code will ALWAYS be
portable across ANSI conformant compilers.

    Response:  true enough.  If I stick to a 6 char external minimum, my coding
style and readability will be severely compromised.  Ever try to provide large
numbers of MEANINGFUL identifier names with a 6 char limit????

    I defy ANYONE to offer a rational, realistic explanation for this 
abomination.  This decision was obviously political, as there *IS* no rational
technical reason for such a crock.

    I wish I knew how to contact the committee and propose that they fix their
screwup.  Maybe someone who reads this will know, and pass it on.
-- 
Tom Keller 
VOICE  : + 1 707 575 9493
UUCP   : {ihnp4,ames,sun,amdahl,lll-crg,pyramid}!ptsfa!gilsys!mc68020