2008/4/27 Robert Dewar <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>:
>
> > Fortunately there is a assembler instruction to do just this on most CPUs.
> > e.g. jo, jc, js
> > It would be nice to be able to write this sort of C code.
> >
> > int a,b,c;
> > a = b + c;
> > if (a overflowed) {
> > handle_overflow();
> > }
> >
>
> Yes, but there is no such feature
>
>
> >
> > One cannot simply code a special function to test the carry/overflow
> > flags as the compiler might reorder the previous instructions, and
> > therefore the carry/overflow state gets messed up.
> >
>
> Right indeed.
> You could code an addition function that did an overflow check and
> call that function
>
>
> >
> > Why has the C language lacked this sort of functionality for so long?
> >
>
> It would be a major language change, there are of course languages (e.g.
> Ada) that handle this conveniently and properly. To me, the more
> interesting question is how on earth Java missed this fundamental
> requirement.
>
> >
> > James
> >
>
>
I think Java handles it OK for floats. I.e. Tests for positive
infinity and negative infinity etc.
I don't think Java handles it for integer maths. I agree with you. Big
oversight for the Java spec developers.
It would have been nice to also have some good handling of reals but
that is a compete other story.
