Then you probably want to mark it with an explicit function named something like "int32_to_uint32()" which you have defined (and debugged) in one place that per

Then you probably want to mark it with an explicit function named something like "int32_to_uint32()" which you have defined (and debugged) in one place that performs the appropriate conversion with sanity checks. Basically, IMO, C's implicit conversions are a flaw in the spec. A more sensible language would require every conversion (aside from those involving un-dimensioned constant data) to be spelled out explicitly. Since you can't make C sensible, the next best thing is to scrupulously isolate the stupid parts.