EDSAC on your desk.

From: Allison J Parent <allisonp_at_world.std.com>
Date: Mon Sep 21 14:35:16 1998

< As a software geek, C is quite portable, as long as you keep several
< things in mind, like shorts are at least 16 bits, longs are at least 32
< bits, ints are at least 16 bits and can't be longer than a long, and don
< use functions not defined in the Standard C library (or stuff you've
< written).

Those things are or should be a given for any language. The problem in
all cases is when you talk to hardware, soon as you do that portability
is likely broken. This has always been true and until hardware is reduced
to one uniform platform (gag!). That is unlikely.

< > It's almost as bad as those web pages that come up
< > and *insist* that you change your graphics mode to 640x480 or
< > some other particular size - why do folks insist on starting with a
< > nice general information-based document standard and then turn it int
< > a nonportable one???!!!

See hardware and portability.


Allison
Received on Mon Sep 21 1998 - 14:35:16 BST