C sucks (RANT ALERT)

[Trond]

C sucks. Example:

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int *pint = 1234;
int *litre;
*litre = 1234;

Now why the HELL does *pint = 1234; set the value of the POINTER while *liter = 1234; sets the value of the DEREFERENCED POINTER???

And WHICH IDIOT made a SYSTEM programming language WITHOUT putting the BIT SIZES of the standard types into the standard? A valid 32-bit C compiler for x86 can, while following the standard, have an 8-bit int and a 64-bit long long (as long as a short and char is no more than 8 bits either). Only conventions keeps the programs running, not the standard.

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int *ptr, notptr;

C's pointer "system" (where's the system?) is a total mess. The * belongs to the variable, not the type, so notptr will not become a pointer. However, even though the * belongs to the variable and not the type, it can also be specified when you specify only a type and no variable, like in a function prototype:

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void myfunc(int *);

In one declaration the * belongs to the variable, in the next it belongs to the type. What were they thinking? (Were they even thinking?)

When to use the * is confusing for starters because it means the EXACT OPPOSITE in different parts of the program.

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int * here_it_means_i_want_a_pointer;

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*however_if_i_use_it_here = it_means_i_DONT_want_the_pointer_but_the_value_it_points_to;

Maybe the other features of C are good, then? (Does C even have other features than pointers?) C features a rich set of operators, that's good. But wait a minute! Did I just say a "rich" set? Can anyone tell me why on earth C lacks a non-bitwise XOR operator? (And C++ as well.)

C has 15 levels of precedence (C++: 17). How many C programmers remembers the relative precence of bitwise and compared to bitwise or? Not many.

To be "consequent", C does not use = for equality testing, it uses ==. This is a huge source of hard-to-detect program errors for programmers. But at least it's consequent, right? Not really. Because when you type a <= b you actually do use = for equality testing, even though = means assignment. If this system was truly consequent then <= would be to < as += is to +, and do an assignment of the boolean value of a less-than comparision.
Yep. += adds and assigns.
-= subtracts and assigns.
*= multiplies and assigns.
/= divides and assigns
%= does modulo and assigns
>>= shifts right and assigns
<<= shifts left and assigns
&= does bitwise and and assigns
^= does bitwise xor and assigns
|= does bitwise or and assigns
<= does NOT do a less-than comparison and assigns.
And they did this to be consequent? (By the way, why is there no &&= operator?)

[milan1612]

Quite interesting to read this, but I think every language has small inconsequences.
Even PB:
I've always wondered why, if you want an infinite loop, the 'Repeat' must end with 'Forever'
and not 'EndRepeat'

[Trond]

Because EndRepeat means that the repeat should END. However, you want to continue with another iteration.

[blueznl]

It's all about form and style, man.

As in GfaBasic's implementation:

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DO
  ....
LOOP

[blueznl]

It's all about form and style, man.

As in GfaBasic's implementation:

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Do
  ....
Loop

... but Pure's looks better

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Repeat
  ....
Forever

The command I still feel funny about is While ... Wend... I think the next version of PureBasic should restandardize and call it...

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While ...
  ...
GoBackToThePreviousLineWithTheWhileAndKeepTryingMate

Much clearer.

[milan1612]

Well OK, actually you're right
Just needed an example and remembered that in the beginning
of my PB 'career' I felt confused about the 'Forever' :roll:

[Xombie]

This is something I've always wondered about: Why does a language need to be so complex as C/C++ and such? Seriously. It just seems that you could create a language that is allows for a high level of customization without resorting to so many hacks and 30 different ways to accomplish something. I look at some C code and cringe from how needlessly complex it seems.

Or DirectX. My god that is horrible to look at. Why can't it just be something like... "InitEnvironment()" or "SpotlightHere()" or "PlaySound()" rather than 500 lines to do something relatively simple.

Am I just being naive?

[milan1612]

No, you're not naive. It's just, well...let your code look more complicated
then your wages will increase

[r_hyde]

I'm in the middle of translating thousands of lines of C code into PB, and I honestly have to agree with Trond about C's usage WRT pointers. However, I will say that I prefer the ease of dereferencing using a single operator rather than PB's Peek/Poke functions. There has to be a way to make pointer usage both consistent and simple/wrist-friendly!

[PB]

> For a new monitor nail here [x]

That's pretty funny.

[Rook Zimbabwe]

And WHICH IDIOT made a SYSTEM programming language WITHOUT putting the BIT SIZES of the standard types into the standard?

OK it was me...
and if you believe that I have a dereferenced pointer set to localize!!!

Yes, there is a different sort of logic to C than Basic. I have trouble thinking in C, but little organizing my thoughts in BASIC.

However, as long as you are accurate in your pointage and ; use... you can do some amazing things... Look at the C code in the OBFUSCATION thread!

And then code more in PB...

[traumatic]

[SOLVED]

[Trond]

I'm in the middle of translating thousands of lines of C code into PB, and I honestly have to agree with Trond about C's usage WRT pointers. However, I will say that I prefer the ease of dereferencing using a single operator rather than PB's Peek/Poke functions. There has to be a way to make pointer usage both consistent and simple/wrist-friendly!

But you don't need Peek/Poke. Just use a variable called *Pointer.LONG. *Pointer is the pointer and *Pointer\l is the value.

[Psychophanta]

Yeah! Confirmed: C and C++ are crap

[citystate]

[SOLVED]

now, don't let's start THAT again...