Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!nuchat!sugar!schaub From: schaub@sugar.UUCP (Markus Schaub) Newsgroups: comp.lang.modula2 Subject: Re: Word Size Message-ID: <1050@sugar.UUCP> Date: Thu, 12-Nov-87 15:18:04 EST Article-I.D.: sugar.1050 Posted: Thu Nov 12 15:18:04 1987 Date-Received: Sun, 15-Nov-87 10:52:17 EST References: Organization: Sugar Land UNIX - Houston, TX Lines: 16 Summary: INT / CARD on 32 bit computers In article , MSRS002@ECNCDC.BITNET ("THE DOCTOR.") writes: > 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 Although it is a 32-bit computer I would prefer CARDINAL and INTEGER types with 16 bit, to save some space in RECORD and ARRAY definitions. If you pack subranges ([0..255] -> 1 byte; [0..65535] -> 2 bytes) you can use 32 bit CARDINALs and INTs. Finally on a 32 bit machine you have 32 x 32 bit multiplications so why mess with 64 bit types and use the same techniques used today for 32 bit types (routines in the run-time system). -Markus -- // Markus Schaub uunet!nuchat!sugar!schaub (713) 523 8422 \X/ c/o Interface Technologies Corp, 3336 Richmond #323, Houston Tx 77098