Thread (28 messages) 28 messages, 2 authors, 2026-01-21

Re: History of const in C++, C89, and POSIX.1-1988 (was: [PATCH v1 02/19] man/man2/access.2: HISTORY: Specify different)

From: Alejandro Colomar <alx@kernel.org>
Date: 2026-01-21 14:44:39

Hi Seth,

On Wed, Jan 21, 2026 at 06:12:45AM +0000, Seth McDonald wrote:
[...]
So if I understand correctly, because function prototypes were first
specified in C89, programs written about 1988-1990 for compatability
with POSIX.1-1988 likely didn't use function pointers in the way my
example did.  In that case, I would agree that this change from 'char*'
to 'const char*' is too inconsequential to document here.
Yes.
But I do still find it an interesting clue as to how these different
standards developed in tandem with one another.  Perhaps we could
still consider noting it in standards(7)?  Since that page already
documents how some systems/standards influenced each other in their
historical development.
Yes, a line saying that POSIX.1-1988 was heavily influenced by the
development of C89 would be good, I think.


Cheers,
Alex

-- 
<https://www.alejandro-colomar.es>

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