From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 Return-Path: Received: (majordomo@vger.kernel.org) by vger.kernel.org via listexpand id ; Wed, 5 Sep 2001 21:50:37 -0400 Received: (majordomo@vger.kernel.org) by vger.kernel.org id ; Wed, 5 Sep 2001 21:50:26 -0400 Received: from smarty.smart.net ([207.176.80.102]:2574 "EHLO smarty.smart.net") by vger.kernel.org with ESMTP id ; Wed, 5 Sep 2001 21:50:18 -0400 From: Rick Hohensee Message-Id: <200109060151.VAA29489@smarty.smart.net> Subject: Re: [IDEA+RFC] Possible solution for min()/max() war To: linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org Date: Wed, 5 Sep 2001 21:51:58 -0400 (EDT) X-Mailer: ELM [version 2.5 PL3] MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Sender: linux-kernel-owner@vger.kernel.org X-Mailing-List: linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org >VDA >#define min2(a,b) ({ \ > typeof(a) __a = (a); \ > typeof(b) __b = (b); \ > if( sizeof(a) != sizeof(b) ) BUG(); \ > if( ~(typeof(a))0 > 0 && ~(typeof(b))0 < 0) BUG(); \ > if( ~(typeof(a))0 < 0 && ~(typeof(b))0 > 0) BUG(); \ > (__a < __b) ? __a : __b; \ > }) > >#define min3(type,a,b) ({ \ > type __a = (a); \ > type __b = (b); \ > if( sizeof(a) > sizeof(type) ) BUG(); \ > if( sizeof(b) > sizeof(type) ) BUG(); \ > (__a < __b) ? __a : __b; \ > }) > DesJardin's argument is finely crafted, but does this support it? Is min3 intended to be what Linus was talking about? I usually use m4 when I need conditionals in macros, and I don't use C conditional statements much, but isn't what Linus was saying simply something like... #define min(type,a,b) (type) a < (type) b ? (type) a : (type) b ; Looking at the trade-offs should account for the simplicity. Even if my code is wrong, it's about reflective of the required complexity, y/n? The simple form doesn't catch things. That's OK for a default. Maybe that's what you want. If it's simple you know what you have, regardless. "programmer error" is frequently a sign of compiler mis-design. One reason I'm speaking in support of Linus on this one is that there's something oddly Forth-like to a simple min(type,a,b). No coder nowhere knows simplicity like Chuck Moore. Linux is ripe for a bit of that. The other thing about the 3-arg min thing is that it's rather original, and it amuses me to see Linus get disrespected for a quantum of real creativity in his own forum. Linux is also ripe for a bit of free thinking. What's open source for if all it helps is closed minds? Rick Hohensee www. cLIeNUX .com humbubba@smart.net