Well no, users of C++ compilers are using an abstract, encapsulated, and portable interface to it, which makes their code automatically follow the standard (if

Well no, users of C++ compilers are using an abstract, encapsulated, and portable interface to it, which makes their code automatically follow the standard (if it cares at all). That's the whole point, isn't it? I don't need to know what size the standard dictates const char* must be, I can just use it and it works.