1. you are free to move the initialization of the struct elsewhere within your library code. I just did it like this to have a compact example. (and I didn't want to bother finding out how and where to place qualifiers) 2. True, but that didn't help in the example code I gave. The compiler still issued an error (VS 2010, compiled "as C"). The reason I pointed out the alternative (defining an enum) is that sometimes you do want a symbol to be recognized and treated as constant (e. g. to prevent typos such as if (MAX_SIZE=10)), but at the same time you want to use these same constants in situations that specifically require constants, such as in array definitions. C unfortunately doesn't allow you to use a const int as array bounds, in spite of VLAs! But it does let you use enum values.
GOTOs are a bit like wire coat hangers: they tend to breed in the darkness, such that where there once were few, eventually there are many, and the program's architecture collapses beneath them. (Fran Poretto)
