Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!mnetor!seismo!brl-adm!rutgers!mit-eddie!genrad!decvax!mcnc!rti-sel!dg_rtp!meissner From: meissner@dg_rtp.UUCP (Michael Meissner) Newsgroups: comp.lang.c Subject: Re: draft ANSI standard: needs your tomatoes Message-ID: <771@dg_rtp.UUCP> Date: Mon, 22-Dec-86 10:12:34 EST Article-I.D.: dg_rtp.771 Posted: Mon Dec 22 10:12:34 1986 Date-Received: Tue, 23-Dec-86 18:53:39 EST References: <1384@hoptoad.uucp> <2550002@hpisod2.HP> <1502@isis.UUCP> Reply-To: meissner@dg_rtp.UUCP (Michael Meissner) Organization: Data General (Languages @ Research Triangle Park, NC.) Lines: 23 /* context is talking about line length */ In article <1502@isis.UUCP> dragheb@isis.UUCP (Darius Ragheb) writes: > > Hmm. Why not just stick to the zero, one, infinite principle: if you are > going to support something (like the length of a line (:-) or the nesting > levels), why, either allow one level, or an infinite number (obviously there > will be an upper limit, probably machine dependant that will never be reached, > but why build an upper limit that is some arbitrary number like 4 or 6.... > that is as bad as the old FORTRAN limit of 7 dimensions for an array.... > where did that number come from?) There are MANY operating systems out there that have maximum line length restrictions, because a line is a record, and records have maximum sizes. As the rationale says, these limits are maxima minima and are a treaty point between the compiler vendor and user. Thus the limit says to the vendor that s/he must support AT LEAST 509 bytes/line (the minima part), and at the same time tells the users that the maximum line size they can count on is 509 for portable programs (the maxima part). Programs can still have more than 509 bytes/line, but they are not maximally portable. -- Michael Meissner, Data General ...mcnc!rti-sel!dg_rtp!meissner