Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!husc6!rutgers!ames!ucbcad!ucbvax!ECNCDC.BITNET!MSRS002
From: MSRS002@ECNCDC.BITNET ("THE DOCTOR.")
Newsgroups: comp.lang.modula2
Subject: Word Size
Message-ID: <INFO-M2%87110717121037@UCF1VM>
Date: Sat, 7-Nov-87 16:04:00 EST
Article-I.D.: UCF1VM.INFO-M2%87110717121037
Posted: Sat Nov  7 16:04:00 1987
Date-Received: Tue, 10-Nov-87 03:37:36 EST
Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
Reply-To: Info-Modula2 Distribution List <INFO-M2%UCF1VM.bitnet@jade.berkeley.edu>
Organization: The ARPA Internet
Lines: 13

How big is a word?  It seems to be common practice to implement INTEGERS
and CARDINALS as 16 bit words, and use LONGINT and LONGCARD for 32 bits.
If you're developing for a 32 bit computer, would it be appropriate to make
INTEGERS and CARDINALS 32 bits and either drop longs or make them 64 bits?
I notice that Wirth writes ~usually 16 bits~ which would seem to indicate
any word size would be appropriate.  This would raise some more portability
questions.

My own opinion would be to implement 32 bit integers and such, I just wanted
to hear some other opinions.

                                                        Tom Ruby
                                                     MSRS002@ECNCDC