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in reply to theruran šŸŒšŸ“

USENIX conference paper abstract w/ link

I really thought there was a paper titled "C Considered Harmful" but what I can find is this one from 1992:

#ifdef Considered Harmful, or Portability Experience with C News


Authors: Henry Spencer, University of Toronto; Geoff Collyer, Software Tool & Die

Abstract:

We believe that a C programmer's impulse to use #ifdef in an attempt at portability is usually a mistake. Portability is generally the result of advance planning rather than trench warfare involving #ifdef. In the course of developing C News on different systems, we evolved various tactics for dealing with differences among systems without producing a welter of #ifdef at points of difference. We discuss the alternatives to, and occasional proper use of, #ifdef.


usenix.org/conference/usenix-sā€¦

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