|
|
The compiler has several compilation modes. The compiler processes a source file into an executable in eight conceptual steps, which are called phases of translation.
The compiler is compatible with the C language described in the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) American National Standard for Information Systems -- Programming Language C document number X3.159-1989. The standard language is referred to as ``ANSI C'' in this document. The compiler is also compatible with the C language described in the International Standards Organization (ISO) Programming Languages -- C, document number ISO/IEC 9899:1990 (E), referred to as ``ISO C.'' The standards leave a list of the characteristics and extensions to be implementation-defined; these are documented in ``ANSI implementation-defined behavior''.
You can use this chapter either as a quick reference guide, or as a comprehensive summary of the language as implemented by the compilation system. Many topics are grouped according to their place in the ANSI-specified phases of translation. At the end of this chapter is a discussion of portability issues arising from machine dependencies.
The chapter is organized as follows: