Path: utzoo!utgpu!attcan!uunet!ingr!crossgl
From: crossgl@ingr.UUCP (Gordon Cross)
Newsgroups: comp.lang.c
Subject: Re: lint warning messages with malloc()
Summary: malloc pointer warning from lint can be ignored
Message-ID: <2816@ingr.UUCP>
Date: 3 Nov 88 14:02:19 GMT
References: <142@cjsa.WA.COM>
Organization: Intergraph Corp. Huntsville, Al
Lines: 17

In article <142@cjsa.WA.COM>, jeff@cjsa.WA.COM (Jeffery Small) writes:
> When compiling a program on an AT&T 3B1 (running SystemV.2 +/-), I am
> getting the following warning message from lint when I use malloc(3):
> 
> 	warning: possible pointer alignment problem

The warning that lint is giving you is based on the fact that you are casting
a character pointer (returned from malloc) into another pointer type having
more stringent alignment requirements.  Malloc does guarantee that all 
pointers it returns are properly aligned to use with any data type but lint
does not assume this since "malloc" is just another function (you could write
your own version you know).  Your best bet is to just ignore the warning
since you are NOT in reality going to have any problems from this!


Gordon Cross
Intergraph Corp.  Huntsville, AL