Re: memparse(), simple_strtoul() prototypes...

From: Avi Kivity
Date: Mon Feb 19 2007 - 09:27:33 EST


Francis Moreau wrote:
> unsigned long simple_strtoul(const char *cp, char **endp,unsigned int base)

hm, I don't get your point. I understand why we cast 'cp' into a (char
*) but that's not my point. My point is why aren't all function
parameters are not const ?


'cp' can be passed as const, because simple_strtoul() does not modify it. 'endp' cannot be passed as const, because simple_strtoul() cannot know whether the caller would want to modify the string or not.

Whichever way it is written, it is broken. If changed to 'const', it would preclude the caller from modifying the string if one has a non-const string. As written, it can silently convert a const string to a non-const string. However, as written it is (a) standard conforming, and (b) more useful.

--
error compiling committee.c: too many arguments to function

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