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" 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.