Re: 'Size (novice question)

[Robert Dewar <robert_dewar@my-deja.com>]

In article <sb58e0h1r2a31@corp.supernews.com>,
  "Vladimir Olensky" <vladimir_olensky@yahoo.com> wrote:

> As I understand efficient  independent addressability  means
> that the X'Size should be multiple of storage_units.
> It would be strange to hear that separate storage unit could
> not be addressed efficiently.

What you find strange depends on your knowledge :-)

But in fact architectures that are byte addressable but do not
allow efficient access to individual storage bytes are not
uncommon. Examples are the AMD 29K, and most earlier models
of the Digital Alpha chip. There are other examples.

On the Alpha for example, GNAT will always allocate 32 bits
to a stand alone Character or Boolean variable, in accordance
with the implementation advice quoted. There is a switch for
GNAT that tells it that you have a late model Alpha where
this is not required.


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