[Vm-dev] [OpenSmalltalk/opensmalltalk-vm] 08822c: Revise valid macro for LLP64 case in sqWin32Backtr...

[David T. Lewis]

On Thu, Jul 07, 2016 at 11:14:20AM -0700, Eliot Miranda wrote:
>  
> Hi David,
> 
> On Thu, Jul 7, 2016 at 9:03 AM, David T. Lewis <lewis at mail.msen.com> wrote:
> 
> >
> > sqInt is not always large enough to hold a pointer, in particular for the
> > common case of a 64-bit VM running a 32-bit object memory (yes I know
> > there is not currently such a configuration for Cog/Spur). It would be
> > good to avoid that assumption if possible.
> >
> 
> I wonder what the benefit of trying to maintain the   64-bit VM running a
> 32-bit object memory configuration is, now that we have an efficient 64-bit
> on 64-bit configuration.  This is costly to maintain, and unless people
> really want to use it for me it feels like wasted effort.  I realise it's
> your baby, and that it may have meaning.  But it's also a hungry mouth to
> feed...
> 

Hi Eliot,

Regarding the type declarations, it is a lot easier to put effort into
doing it right the first time, rather than trying to fix it later. It is
also easier to find and fix problems in that area if you are working in
a mixed environment with 64-bit pointers and 32-bit sqInt. So yes there
is value in maintaining that configuration.

Kudos to Nicolas for taking the time to think the issue through and get
the declarations right. It is the right thing to do, and it will save a
good deal of pain for other people in the years to come :-)

Dave