3 ms·

Plus, it was a language to write systems, where "size of register on current machine" was a nice shortcut for "int", where registers could be anywhere from 8-32

Plus, it was a language to write systems, where "size of register on current machine" was a nice shortcut for "int", where registers could be anywhere from 8-32 bits, with 48 or 12 also a possibility.

masklinn 4y ago
Except that’s not been true in a while, and technically this assumptions was not kosher for even longer: C itself only guarantees that int is 16 bits.
cestith 4y ago
I have a couple of 12-bit machines upstairs. There were also 36-bit systems once upon a time.