Re: [PATCH] Use NULL instead of integer 0 in security/selinux/

[Paul Jackson <pj@sgi.com>]

(off-topic alert)

>	if (0 != i)

Does anyone know of the origins of writing such tests this way, rather
than:

	if (i != 0)

I read the first as testing whether "0" has a certain property, which is
a silly thing to test, since the properties of "0" are rather constant.

The second form I read as testing a property of "i" - much more
interesting.  Logically, the same, of course.  Just a question of which
form is more idiomatic.

Back in the days when it was Ken, Dennis and Brian, not K & R, I don't
recall seeing the first form used much.  Even now I see _zero_ matches
on "if (0 " in kernel or mm - only in arch, drivers, net, scripts, and
sound (with a single time.h exception).

If I were Linus, I'd vote the first form off the island.  Then again,
if I were Linus, you would never have heard of Linux ;).

-- 
                          I won't rest till it's the best ...
                          Programmer, Linux Scalability
                          Paul Jackson <pj@sgi.com> 1.650.933.1373