Keywords that I don't understand
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Hi fellows I'm programming C++ approximately 1 1/2 year, and I programming for windows too. But some keywords I don't know exactly what they are and when I use them. That's my question: What the meaning of terms and when I use them: __stdcall __pascal __fastcall __thiscall inline It seems that's beginner question but I would like some answer to this question Thanks for help again
inline is the standout, it's different to the others. inline is a *suggestion* to the compiler that this function is so simple, that it's more efficient to write the code for this function in the places where it's called, instead of paying the cost of a call to another memory address to run it. The vital thing to understand is that hte compiler is both free to inline things itself, and to decide you're wrong and *not* inline the function.
Christian Graus - Microsoft MVP - C++ "I am working on a project that will convert a FORTRAN code to corresponding C++ code.I am not aware of FORTRAN syntax" ( spotted in the C++/CLI forum )
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Stephen Hewitt wrote:
Or just use inline and save yourself the hastle and enjoy type safety to boot!
Ok, it's not much less type safe (way to miss a point again). And, save yourself two keystrokes for something rarely debugged in the first place and give yourself way more problems in exchange - yeah great advice.
Jeremy Falcon "It's a good thing to do and a tasty way to do it." - Wilford Brimley[^]
No, I'm not missing the point. Perhaps you can explain the advantages of macros over inline functions? There are some things inline functions can't do like stringisation and token pasting and such; but when inline functions can be used they're a better solution for many reasons including the following: - Type safety. - Automatically disabled in debug builds to aid debugging. - Can use multiline constructs without having to end each line with a "\". - Can be put into
namespaces! - Can be members ofclasses andstructs! - Can be overloaded! . . .Steve
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No, I'm not missing the point. Perhaps you can explain the advantages of macros over inline functions? There are some things inline functions can't do like stringisation and token pasting and such; but when inline functions can be used they're a better solution for many reasons including the following: - Type safety. - Automatically disabled in debug builds to aid debugging. - Can use multiline constructs without having to end each line with a "\". - Can be put into
namespaces! - Can be members ofclasses andstructs! - Can be overloaded! . . .Steve
Stephen Hewitt wrote:
Perhaps you can explain the advantages of macros over inline functions?
Perhaps you can read my posts and find the answer there already seeing as I said it more than once.
Stephen Hewitt wrote:
- Type safety.
Addressed twice. The type safety you refer to isn't a real issue since a macro expands to type safe code.
Stephen Hewitt wrote:
- Automatically disabled in debug builds to aid debugging.
And like typing #ifdef _DEBUG will break your arm.
Stephen Hewitt wrote:
- Can use multiline constructs without having to end each line with a "\".
You know you're reaching deep when you have syntax as reasoning. :laugh:
Stephen Hewitt wrote:
- Can be put into namespaces! - Can be members of classes and structs. - Can be overloaded.
Actually these are very good points, but it doesn't really mean inline functions should always be used in place of macros as you suggest. Besides, this has contradicting logic. I mean, why write an inline function... usually for speed right? Using the second two of your three points quoted would effectively break that anyway.
Jeremy Falcon "It's a good thing to do and a tasty way to do it." - Wilford Brimley[^]
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inline is the standout, it's different to the others. inline is a *suggestion* to the compiler that this function is so simple, that it's more efficient to write the code for this function in the places where it's called, instead of paying the cost of a call to another memory address to run it. The vital thing to understand is that hte compiler is both free to inline things itself, and to decide you're wrong and *not* inline the function.
Christian Graus - Microsoft MVP - C++ "I am working on a project that will convert a FORTRAN code to corresponding C++ code.I am not aware of FORTRAN syntax" ( spotted in the C++/CLI forum )
Christian Graus wrote:
inline is a *suggestion* to the compiler that this function is so simple
I hate to use your post, but that's a great reason I forgot. There is no real guarantee inline will even work. You're guaranteed to have inline expansion with macros though. Man, old age is getting to me. :-O
Jeremy Falcon "It's a good thing to do and a tasty way to do it." - Wilford Brimley[^]
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No, I'm not missing the point. Perhaps you can explain the advantages of macros over inline functions? There are some things inline functions can't do like stringisation and token pasting and such; but when inline functions can be used they're a better solution for many reasons including the following: - Type safety. - Automatically disabled in debug builds to aid debugging. - Can use multiline constructs without having to end each line with a "\". - Can be put into
namespaces! - Can be members ofclasses andstructs! - Can be overloaded! . . .Steve
Stephen Hewitt wrote:
- Can be members of classes and structs! - Can be overloaded!
Now that I think about it, that extra cost my be placed on the compile time rather than the run time. But alas, I'm too lazy and and it's getting too late for me to look into it.
Jeremy Falcon "It's a good thing to do and a tasty way to do it." - Wilford Brimley[^]
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Stephen Hewitt wrote:
Perhaps you can explain the advantages of macros over inline functions?
Perhaps you can read my posts and find the answer there already seeing as I said it more than once.
Stephen Hewitt wrote:
- Type safety.
Addressed twice. The type safety you refer to isn't a real issue since a macro expands to type safe code.
Stephen Hewitt wrote:
- Automatically disabled in debug builds to aid debugging.
And like typing #ifdef _DEBUG will break your arm.
Stephen Hewitt wrote:
- Can use multiline constructs without having to end each line with a "\".
You know you're reaching deep when you have syntax as reasoning. :laugh:
Stephen Hewitt wrote:
- Can be put into namespaces! - Can be members of classes and structs. - Can be overloaded.
Actually these are very good points, but it doesn't really mean inline functions should always be used in place of macros as you suggest. Besides, this has contradicting logic. I mean, why write an inline function... usually for speed right? Using the second two of your three points quoted would effectively break that anyway.
Jeremy Falcon "It's a good thing to do and a tasty way to do it." - Wilford Brimley[^]
No one says macros should never be used, just that they shouldn’t be used when other superior constructs exist for the same task; the specific example in this case is that macros should not be used as
inlinefunctions. I have constantly argued the point, complete with examples and data (compiler output) to support my claims; while you seem intent on arguing the person and accusing people of missing the point. Well I've had my say and I'll let my comments speak for themselves.Steve
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Josh Gray wrote:
Also this[^] discussion is relevant.
It's also confusing bad macro design with bad design in general. Apples to oranges.
Josh Gray wrote:
but if you think you know better than him or me macro away till the cows come home, I really dont care
Tell me then, since he designed C++, why didn't he drop macro support if he loathed the mere existence of them that much? Compatibility can't be the reason as it was a brand new language at the time, and wouldn't effect C. I can understand making it completely compile C code, but why not specify compilers replace macros with something else under the hood, etc. I mean, why keep them if they're so bad?
Jeremy Falcon "It's a good thing to do and a tasty way to do it." - Wilford Brimley[^]
Jeremy Falcon wrote:
Tell me then, since he designed C++, why didn't he drop macro support if he loathed the mere existence of them that much? Compatibility can't be the reason as it was a brand new language at the time, and wouldn't effect C. I can understand making it completely compile C code, but why not specify compilers replace macros with something else under the hood, etc. I mean, why keep them if they're so bad?
Obviously I could only speculate at this and that would be pointless. It is my preference to avoid macros whenever possible.
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No one says macros should never be used, just that they shouldn’t be used when other superior constructs exist for the same task; the specific example in this case is that macros should not be used as
inlinefunctions. I have constantly argued the point, complete with examples and data (compiler output) to support my claims; while you seem intent on arguing the person and accusing people of missing the point. Well I've had my say and I'll let my comments speak for themselves.Steve
Stephen Hewitt wrote:
No one says macros should never be used, just that they shouldn’t be use when other superior constructs exist for the same task; the specific example in this case is that macros should not be used as inline functions.
I'm sorry you don't understand context - my bad. I'll have to remember that next time I write something.
Stephen Hewitt wrote:
I have constantly argued the point, complete with examples and data (compiler output) to support my claims;
And that makes you correct how?
Stephen Hewitt wrote:
while you seem intent on arguing the person and accusing people of missing the point. Well I've had my say and I'll let my comments speak for themselves.
Fair enough, but don't accuse me of what you did, and that is to argue a point I never spoke against. Have a nice day.
Jeremy Falcon "It's a good thing to do and a tasty way to do it." - Wilford Brimley[^]
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No one says macros should never be used, just that they shouldn’t be used when other superior constructs exist for the same task; the specific example in this case is that macros should not be used as
inlinefunctions. I have constantly argued the point, complete with examples and data (compiler output) to support my claims; while you seem intent on arguing the person and accusing people of missing the point. Well I've had my say and I'll let my comments speak for themselves.Steve
Stephen Hewitt wrote:
No one says macros should never be used, just that they shouldn’t be use when other superior constructs exist for the same task; the specific example in this case is that macros should not be used as inline functions.
Actually, I just reread what I said. I did mention inline functions. Perhaps you should bother reading my posts... oh wait.
Jeremy Falcon "It's a good thing to do and a tasty way to do it." - Wilford Brimley[^]
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Jeremy Falcon wrote:
Tell me then, since he designed C++, why didn't he drop macro support if he loathed the mere existence of them that much? Compatibility can't be the reason as it was a brand new language at the time, and wouldn't effect C. I can understand making it completely compile C code, but why not specify compilers replace macros with something else under the hood, etc. I mean, why keep them if they're so bad?
Obviously I could only speculate at this and that would be pointless. It is my preference to avoid macros whenever possible.
Josh Gray wrote:
Obviously I could only speculate at this and that would be pointless. It is my preference to avoid macros whenever possible.
Well, let's make a deal. I won't hold it against you if you don't hold it against me for sneaking the occasional macro or two in some code when you're not looking. :-D
Jeremy Falcon "It's a good thing to do and a tasty way to do it." - Wilford Brimley[^]
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Josh Gray wrote:
Obviously I could only speculate at this and that would be pointless. It is my preference to avoid macros whenever possible.
Well, let's make a deal. I won't hold it against you if you don't hold it against me for sneaking the occasional macro or two in some code when you're not looking. :-D
Jeremy Falcon "It's a good thing to do and a tasty way to do it." - Wilford Brimley[^]
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Christian Graus wrote:
inline is a *suggestion* to the compiler that this function is so simple
I hate to use your post, but that's a great reason I forgot. There is no real guarantee inline will even work. You're guaranteed to have inline expansion with macros though. Man, old age is getting to me. :-O
Jeremy Falcon "It's a good thing to do and a tasty way to do it." - Wilford Brimley[^]
The only times I've seen MSVC ignore an
inlinedirective is when its had no choice such as with recursive functions: in this context this is a feature.Steve
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The only times I've seen MSVC ignore an
inlinedirective is when its had no choice such as with recursive functions: in this context this is a feature.Steve
Stephen Hewitt wrote:
The only times I've seen MSVC ignore an inline directive is when its had no choice such as with recursive functions: in this context this is a feature.
And MSVC is the only compiler in existence too.
Jeremy Falcon "It's a good thing to do and a tasty way to do it." - Wilford Brimley[^]
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Stephen Hewitt wrote:
The only times I've seen MSVC ignore an inline directive is when its had no choice such as with recursive functions: in this context this is a feature.
And MSVC is the only compiler in existence too.
Jeremy Falcon "It's a good thing to do and a tasty way to do it." - Wilford Brimley[^]
No, it isn't. Until recently it was one of the worst (MSVC 6) in common use. I have inspected the machine code generated by MSVC 6 (I do a lot of postmortem debugging at work) and the inlining works as expected except when that’s not possible, as I mentioned before. The Microsoft compilers after MSVC 6 produce even better code from what I’ve seen. All modern C++ compiler support inlining just fine.
Steve
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No, it isn't. Until recently it was one of the worst (MSVC 6) in common use. I have inspected the machine code generated by MSVC 6 (I do a lot of postmortem debugging at work) and the inlining works as expected except when that’s not possible, as I mentioned before. The Microsoft compilers after MSVC 6 produce even better code from what I’ve seen. All modern C++ compiler support inlining just fine.
Steve
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No, it isn't. Until recently it was one of the worst (MSVC 6) in common use. I have inspected the machine code generated by MSVC 6 (I do a lot of postmortem debugging at work) and the inlining works as expected except when that’s not possible, as I mentioned before. The Microsoft compilers after MSVC 6 produce even better code from what I’ve seen. All modern C++ compiler support inlining just fine.
Steve
Stephen Hewitt wrote:
Until recently it was one of the worst (MSVC 6) in common use. I have inspected the machine code generated by MSVC 6 (I do a lot of postmortem debugging at work) and the inlining works as expected except when that’s not possible, as I mentioned before. The Microsoft compilers after MSVC 6 produce even better code from what I’ve seen.
And you just felt the need to say this right? I don't really see how this has anything to do with the point that was quoted - which I'm sure you could've guessed is sarcasm.
Stephen Hewitt wrote:
All modern C++ compiler support inlining just fine.
Nice blanket statement there. Notice the extra little comments in these links that have nothing to do with recursion. http://gcc.gnu.org/onlinedocs/gcc/Inline.html[^] http://www.osc.edu/hpc/manuals/ia64/docs2/c_ug_lnx.pdf[^] I don't know about you, but it seems easier to me to just use a macro rather than learn all the quirks of every compiler in the world.
Jeremy Falcon "It's a good thing to do and a tasty way to do it." - Wilford Brimley[^]