Gnu C features some interesting extensions, among others
compound statements that return a value. For instance:
({ int y = foo(); int z;
if (y>0) z = y; else z=-y;
z;
})
A block enclosed by braces can appear within parentheses
to form a block that "returns" a value. This is handy
in some macros, or in other applications.
Actually this construct is nothing more (and nothing less)
than anonymous functions.
Anonymous functions could be really handy in call to qsort,
for instance, where just writing an expression could allow
the compiler to expand the anonymous function at each point of
call (as an inline function) within the qsort algorithm.
This, and other extensions are published in a document
"Potential Extnsions for Inclusion in a revision of
ISO/EIC 98/99" available at
http://www.open-std.org/jtc1/sc22/wg...docs/n1229.pdf
That is the official standard site.
Other Gnu extensions are mentioned in that document, like typeof
for instance, an extension that also lcc-win32 implements.
jacob
