[NTLUG:Discuss] Processor architecture related queries

[Steve Baker]

kbrannen at gte.net wrote:

> In addition to all that, most platforms (but not all) will require the 
> struct or union to align on its most restrictive member; the ones that 
> don't require that generally require alignment on a 4 byte boundry 
> (there's probably a exception to that too. :-)

Yes - good point.

> Also, the only way I've ever found to 
> *truly know* if your app is portable, is to port it. :-)

I'd also add that porting your code to many platforms is an EXCELLENT
way to find bugs in it.  It's unusual to port an application of any
size without finding bugs that had lain dormant on the original platform
that cause horrific problems on your new architecture!   Compile and run
on as many CPU types, OS's and compilers as you can lay your hands on.

> Lastly, if you 
> do not own a memory checker like PurifyPlus, run (don't walk :-) and get 
> it as quick as you can.  It pays for itself many times over.  [And they 
> now have a Linux port!] The Gimpel FlexeLint tool is pretty good too.  
> [Comes as obfucated source, so you can run this on Linux.]

We've used ElectricFence with some success.  It's both free and Free.

---------------------------- Steve Baker -------------------------
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