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

[Dan Cross]

On Mon, Sep 30, 2024 at 2:07 PM Larry McVoy <lm at mcvoy.com> wrote:
> 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.

The problem with ref counting is that it's not completely general;
circular data structures will never be collected, even if all external
references to them disappear. That said, reference counting is a
really powerful technique; it's just that it must be used carefully.

        - Dan C.