In article <be3e16017566e26d4074ae69bc9b1...@chula.quanstro.net>, erik quanstrom <quans...@quanstro.net> wrote: >> Even C has a runtime. Perhaps you should look more into how programming >> languages are implemented :-). C++ has one too, especially in the wake of >> exceptions and such. > >really? what do you consider to be the c runtime? >i don't think that the asm goo that gets you to main >really counts as "runtime" and neither does the c >library, because neither implement language features.
Yes and no, though it's worthing point out that enough people do seem to call it all a runtime. However, the "asm goo" surely does really count, since on some system it is more than just a jump to the start, and can include memory allocation, memory initialiation, math routines not available on the chip, opening files, etc. The way I see it, it's not so much that is implements language features per se (though that's part of it) but a way to support the run time execution of the program (and I agree that does not necessarily mean printf either) which is a wishy washy kind of way supporting "the language" even though the standard does not literally defines how it happens. Probably I put my foot in my mouth with this unofficial definition, but I'm sure somebody will point that out :) -- Greg Comeau / 4.3.10.1 with C++0xisms now in beta! Comeau C/C++ ONLINE ==> http://www.comeaucomputing.com/tryitout World Class Compilers: Breathtaking C++, Amazing C99, Fabulous C90. Comeau C/C++ with Dinkumware's Libraries... Have you tried it?
