[Mpi-forum] Giving up on C11 _Generic

[N.M. Maclaren]

On Aug 8 2019, Jeff Hammond wrote:

> That you use code that does unsafe conversions really has nothing to do 
> with the business of the MPI Forum.
>
> Again, if you think C89 is the best C, then use and teach that. No one 
> here is trying to make you use C11.

Please don't be infantile.  I am thankfully retired, but spent 43 years
supporting scientific computing, including as our organisation's C expert,
and 15 years on SC22WG14.  As I have said (twice now, if I recall) "This
is not about MY code."

Jim Dinan has pointed out that unsafe conversions are a feature of the
C language, and I can confirm that they have been basic to the language
since K&R C and still are, in both C and C++, and are relied on in the
vast majority of the many dozens of large C codes I have ported, worked
on and advised people with.

He actually understated the problem, as assignment is not the only factor
that makes this such a foul issue.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.