Author: Dann Corbit
Date: 12:50:21 02/22/05
Go up one level in this thread
On February 22, 2005 at 15:45:02, Tom Likens wrote:
[snip]
>Tim,
>
>You could make this slightly shorter by declaring main void and getting rid
>of that "return 0" at the end! ;-)
From the C-FAQ:
1.25b: What's the right declaration for main()?
Is void main() correct?
A: See questions 11.12a through 11.15. (But no, it's not correct.)
11.12a: What's the correct declaration of main()?
A: Either int main(), int main(void), or int main(int argc,
char *argv[]) (with alternate spellings of argc and *argv[]
obviously allowed). See also questions 11.12b to 11.15 below.
References: ISO Sec. 5.1.2.2.1, Sec. G.5.1; H&S Sec. 20.1 p.
416; CT&P Sec. 3.10 pp. 50-51.
11.12b: Can I declare main() as void, to shut off these annoying
"main returns no value" messages?
A: No. main() must be declared as returning an int, and as
taking either zero or two arguments, of the appropriate types.
If you're calling exit() but still getting warnings, you may
have to insert a redundant return statement (or use some kind
of "not reached" directive, if available).
Declaring a function as void does not merely shut off or
rearrange warnings: it may also result in a different function
call/return sequence, incompatible with what the caller (in
main's case, the C run-time startup code) expects.
(Note that this discussion of main() pertains only to "hosted"
implementations; none of it applies to "freestanding"
implementations, which may not even have main(). However,
freestanding implementations are comparatively rare, and if
you're using one, you probably know it. If you've never heard
of the distinction, you're probably using a hosted
implementation, and the above rules apply.)
References: ISO Sec. 5.1.2.2.1, Sec. G.5.1; H&S Sec. 20.1 p.
416; CT&P Sec. 3.10 pp. 50-51.
11.14a: I believe that declaring void main() can't fail, since I'm
calling exit() instead of returning, and anyway my operating
system ignores a program's exit/return status.
A: It doesn't matter whether main() returns or not, or whether
anyone looks at the status; the problem is that when main() is
misdeclared, its caller (the runtime startup code) may not even
be able to *call* it correctly (due to the potential clash of
calling conventions; see question 11.12b).
Your operating system may ignore the exit status, and
void main() may work for you, but it is not portable and not
correct.
11.14b: So what could go wrong? Are there really any systems where
void main() doesn't work?
A: It has been reported that programs using void main() and
compiled using BC++ 4.5 can crash. Some compilers (including
DEC C V4.1 and gcc with certain warnings enabled) will complain
about void main().
11.15: The book I've been using, _C Programing for the Compleat Idiot_,
always uses void main().
A: Perhaps its author counts himself among the target audience.
Many books unaccountably use void main() in examples, and assert
that it's correct. They're wrong.
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