Re: 64-bit integers in Ada

["Marin David Condic" <dont.bother.mcondic.auntie.spam@[acm.org>]

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Its been a while since I've seen a C compiler for a 6502, but my
recollection is that the last one I did look at had 16 bits for the type
int. Please correct me if I'm wrong here - have you seen C compilers for
this target using 8 bits for the type int? My thinking here is that even for
guys programming small computers, an int or Integer being required to
support at least 16 bits, is a useful constraint even if it has to be
simulated with software. Guys programming 6502's still need to frequently
count things well above +/-128 and int or Integer are the customary, handy
counter that you'd like to have some asurance will accommodate some useful
range.

That's why I wouldn't object to the standard requiring that an
implementation support at least 16 bits - even for small machines. People
expect it. Going the other direction (requiring support for 64 bits or 128
bits or unlimited bits) is a different situation in that this might become
an unreasonable burden on a compiler for a small target. (I'd certainly
consider it desirable that it be "permissable" - just not "required")

MDC
--
Marin David Condic
Senior Software Engineer
Pace Micro Technology Americas    www.pacemicro.com
Enabling the digital revolution
e-Mail:    marin.condic@pacemicro.com


"Lutz Donnerhacke" <lutz@iks-jena.de> wrote in message
news:slrnakhqa5.ok.lutz@taranis.iks-jena.de...
>
> Integer ist expected to be the size of the maschine word. Now choose a
6502
> or similar �P. If you need a certain range of countable numbers, define
your
> own type. But do not insist on types the maschine can not handle
efficiently.
> Ada requires native support for all native maschine types anyway.