> so whenever we have 128-bit or 256-bit registers, we'll have to go back and update all this code that effectively "optimizes" 1 bit of information This is wh

> so whenever we have 128-bit or 256-bit registers, we'll have to go back and update all this code that effectively "optimizes" 1 bit of information This is why we have uint_least8_t and friends. In fact, int is really just another int_least16_t. > Furthermore, casting uintx_t to int and back again while using shared libraries is a huge pain in the ass and can waste a lot of programmer time that would be better spent elsewhere Could you give an example? It sounds like you're just talking about performing the casts, which shouldn't take much effort at all as indiscriminately as C casts about integral values.