[COFF] [TUHS] Re: Minimum Array Sizes in 16 bit C (was Maximum)

[Larry McVoy]

On Mon, Sep 30, 2024 at 11:49:28AM -0400, Paul Winalski wrote:
> [moving to COFF as this has drifted away from Unix]
> 
> On Sat, Sep 28, 2024 at 2:06???PM Larry McVoy <lm at mcvoy.com> wrote:
> 
> 
> > I have a somewhat different view.  I have a son who is learning to program
> > and he asked me about C.  I said "C is like driving a sports car on a
> > twisty mountain road that has cliffs and no guard rails.  If you want to
> > check your phone while you are driving, it's not for you.  It requires
> > your full, focussed attention.  So that sounds bad, right?  Well, if
> > you are someone who enjoys driving a sports car, and are good at it,
> > perhaps C is for you."
> >
> > If you really want a language with no guard rails, try programming in
> BLISS.
> 
> Regarding C and C++ having dangerous language features--of course they do.
> Every higher-level language I've ever seen has its set of toxic language
> features that should be avoided if you want reliability and maintainability
> for your programs.  And a set of things to avoid if you want portability.
> 
> Regarding managed dynamic memory allocation schemes that use garbage
> collection vs. malloc()/free(), there are some applications where they are
> not suitable.  I'm thinking about real-time programs.  You can't have your
> missle defense software pause to do garbage collection when you're trying
> to shoot down an incoming ballistic missile.

That's why I like reference counting.  It doesn't have the long pauses
that other garbage collection systems have, when the variable goes out
of scope, you decrement, last guy frees.  Seems pretty simple.
-- 
---
Larry McVoy           Retired to fishing          http://www.mcvoy.com/lm/boat