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My problem with "endian" is the overloaded definition of the word "end" (does a 1-dimensional object have 2 ends or 1 start and 1 end?), and the ambiguity about
by superluserdo 5y ago
My problem with "endian" is the overloaded definition of the word "end" (does a 1-dimensional object have 2 ends or 1 start and 1 end?), and the ambiguity about whether you're talking about the "end" of the number or the "end" of the segment of memory. If you take "end" to mean "the end of the memory segment" (as opposed to the start) then the two definitions are the wrong way round. I think something like "big-first" and "little-first" would have been much more intuitive.
- Asraelite 5y agoThe interpretation that I find the most intuitive puts them the wrong way round, to the point where I remember which is which by specifically remembering "it's the opposite of what you'd think".
- zwirbl 5y agoAnd at that point I usually look it up in wikipedia or on my left arm, because I'm not sure anymore
- wallscratch 5y agoEvery time I try to use a “it’s the opposite of what you think” mental shorthand, I get used to the wrong-seeming (but correct) way it is, and then I start mentally flipping it back to the actually incorrect version.