[Python-Dev] ANSI strict aliasing and Python

[Ben Laurie]

Martin v. Löwis wrote:
> "Tim Peters" <tim.one@comcast.net> writes:
>>>Notice that a compiler is allowed to infer that the test is always
>>>false.
>>
>>I don't buy that.  I'll buy that the result of the comparison is undefined
>>by C, and that a hostile implementation of C could arbitrarily decide to
>>call all such expressions false -- or arbitrarily decide to call all such
>>expressions true.
> 
> 
> You are right: it is undefined, so an implementation that always gives
> false might still be conforming. The closest statement to defining
> behaviour is 6.3.2.3p7:
> 
> # A pointer to an object or incomplete type may be converted to a
> # pointer to a different object or incomplete type.  If the resulting
> # pointer is not correctly aligned57) for the pointed-to type, the
> # behavior is undefined.  Otherwise, when converted back again, the
> # result shall compare equal to the original pointer.
> 
> So if you convert two pointers to the same PyIntObject to PyObject*,
> and convert them back, then compare them, you are guaranteed to get
> true. If you compare them while they are PyObject*, no guarantees are
> given.

FWIW, K&R 2nd Ed. says in A6.6 that this is only true if the conversion
is to a type whose alignment requirement is less or equally strict. It
also says that chars have the least strict alignment requirement.

Cheers,

Ben.

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