[net.unix-wizards] pointer size problems

dan%cit-vax@sri-unix.UUCP (03/02/84)

From:  Dan Whelan <dan@cit-vax>

read(fd, &y, sizeof(y)) is not portable because sizeof reflects the
compiler's opinions on alignment and padding.

gwyn%brl-vld@sri-unix.UUCP (03/03/84)

From:      Doug Gwyn (VLD/VMB) <gwyn@brl-vld>

read(fd, &y, sizeof y) is not portable for reasons that have nothing
to do with alignment and padding.  (ANY use of binary external data
is inherently machine-dependent.)  The problem with the read statement
is that &y is not a (char *).