__STDC__, _POSIX_SOURCE, etc.

[Bob Lenk]

> If it is generally going to be the case that the POSIX compilation
> environment predefines _POSIX_SOURCE then that is not a good argument.

Any environment that does this had better be careful.  A reasonable
program written to the 1003.1 standard might begin with either

	#define _POSIX_SOURCE
or
	#define _POSIX_SOURCE 1

> I like the suggestion that 1003.1 publish a clarification of this
> whole business.  If there are some non-required but generally agreed
> techniques for the definition and use of these symbols, perhaps it
> would be appropriate to try to steer vendors along the same path also.

I agree that agreeing upon and publishing conventions would be useful.
How is this different than X3J11 publishing guidelines for the use of
__STDC__ covering such things as __STDC__ == 0?

		Bob Lenk
		hplabs!hpfcla!rml
		rml%hpfcla at hplabs.hp.com