[comp.lang.c] 6 character identifiers

MRC%PANDA@SUMEX-AIM.Stanford.EDU (04/13/87)

     I think it's a bad idea to eliminate the 6-character identifier
rule.  A compiler/linker pair can, as an extension, allow longer
identifiers, but use of such identifiers *does* sacrifice portability.

     I have had the distinct non-pleasure of having to port code to a
6-character identifier compiler/linker environment.  It was no fun at
all.  [To be fair, I should point out that the linker in question, the
DEC-20 linker, does allow long identifiers.  Unfortunately, the C
compiler generates assembly language source files, not linker binaries,
and the assembler has the 6-character limit.]
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