Re: RFC: booleans and the kernel

Jeff Garzik (jgarzik@mandrakesoft.com)
Thu, 24 Jan 2002 15:03:23 -0500

Oliver Xymoron wrote:
> On Thu, 24 Jan 2002, Jeff Garzik wrote:
> > Where variables are truly boolean use of a bool type makes the
> > intentions of the code more clear. And it also gives the compiler a
> > slightly better chance to optimize code [I suspect].
>
> Unlikely. The compiler can already figure this sort of thing out from
> context.

X, true, and false are of type int.
If one tests X==false and then later on tests X==true, how does the
compiler know the entire domain has been tested? With a boolean, it
would. Or a switch statement... if both true and false are covered,
there is no need for a 'default'. Similar arguments apply for
enumerated types.

-- 
Jeff Garzik      | "I went through my candy like hot oatmeal
Building 1024    |  through an internally-buttered weasel."
MandrakeSoft     |             - goats.com
-
To unsubscribe from this list: send the line "unsubscribe linux-kernel" in
the body of a message to majordomo@vger.kernel.org
More majordomo info at  http://vger.kernel.org/majordomo-info.html
Please read the FAQ at  http://www.tux.org/lkml/