Re: source(builtin) and read(2)

[Paul Eggert]

Eric Blake <address@hidden> writes:

> I'm seeking backup from those more knowledgeable about the C
> and POSIX standards as to whether NSK is allowed to define SSIZE_MAX to
> something smaller than what the underlying type can hold,

Yes, that's my understanding.  To back this up,
<http://www.opengroup.org/susv3/basedefs/sys/types.h.html> says "The
type ssize_t shall be capable of storing values at least in the range
[-1, {SSIZE_MAX}]" which has the clear implication that ssize_t might
be able to store values greater than SSIZE_MAX.

> whether it is worth auditing gnulib to find any places that have
> previously assumed that SSIZE_MAX is ((1<<(sizeof(ssize_t)*CHAR_BIT -
> 2))-1)*2+1.

My kneejerk reaction is that it's not worth _my_ time but it might be
worth _Matthew's_....