Re: Oberon and Wirthian languages

[Simon Clubley <clubley@remove_me.eisner.decus.org-Earth.UFP>]

On 2014-04-21, Randy Brukardt <randy@rrsoftware.com> wrote:
> "Shark8" <OneWingedShark@gmail.com> wrote in message 
> news:mHd5v.110220$nm4.61317@fx27.iad...
> ...
>> So it's not unaddressed in Ada, but it is a little awkward; I think some
>> of these could be helped by Ada 2012 aspects though [Size & Bit_Order on
>> the component types]. (There's also the question of what happens when a
>> component type of the opposite Bit_Order is included... that may be
>> answered in the LRM, but I simply don't recall reading it.)
>
> The RM definitely describes what happens in the alternative bit-order. 
> Unfortunately, the description will probably give you a headache. All of the 
> stuff about "machine scalars" relates to this subject. It's not an easy 
> subject at all.
>

Shark8's message has not shown up at Eternal September, so I am replying
to Randy's extract above.

I did know about the bit ordering options in Ada, but thanks. The
"absolutely crazy" comment was directed towards what we have to do
in C and the fact I would like to see something much better in any
C language replacement.

BTW, stuff like this is exactly the kind of thing we could introduce into
a new language without reducing the "hackability" that many C programmers
seem to look for in their language choice (as people here have reminded
me several times over the last few days :-)).

Simon.

-- 
Simon Clubley, clubley@remove_me.eisner.decus.org-Earth.UFP
Microsoft: Bringing you 1980s technology to a 21st century world