[ The Types Forum, http://lists.seas.upenn.edu/mailman/listinfo/types-list ]
>> What machines do you use, where a C compiler fills in the gaps of your >> source code? Quantum computers? > > Well, the C standard does not fully define the meaning of all C > programs, e.g. when a program divides by zero. The actual program output > may depend on the compiler options. The machine code is usually strictly > defined, so in a sense the C compiler fills in gaps. Right, re: division by zero, but the program output is still deterministic -- the gap was filled before you even wrote your program, by the compiler vendor/writer. A given compiler (say gcc vs. TurboC) could handle the case of division by zero differently, but the compiler writer still has to make the design decision what his/her compiler will do. Once that decision is made, it will do the same thing every time. *There is no ambiguity, the gap was filled by the compiler designer *prior* to your code.* Cheers, -- MarkJ Tacoma, Washington
