c preprocessor

C preprocessor

   <tool, programming> (cpp) The standard {Unix}
   {macro}-expansion utility run as the first phase of the {C}
   compiler, {cc}.  Cpp interprets lines beginning with "#" such
   as

   	#define BUFFER_SIZE 256

   as a textual {assignment} giving the symbol BUFFER_SIZE a
   value "256".  Symbols defined with cpp are traditionally given
   upper case names to distinguish them from C identifiers.  This
   symbol can be used later in the input, as in

   	char input_buffer[BUFFER_SIZE];

   This use of cpp to name constants, rather than writing these
   {magic numbers} inline, makes a program easier to read and
   maintain, especially if there is more than one occurrence of
   BUFFER_SIZE all of which must all have the same value.

   Cpp macros can have parameters:

   	#define BIT(n) (1<<(n))

   This can be used with any appropriate actual argument:

   	msb = BIT(nbits-1);

   Note the parentheses around the "n" in the definition of BIT.
   Without these, operator precedence might mean that the
   expression substituted in place of n might not be interpreted
   correctly (though the example above would be OK).

   Cpp also supports conditional compilation with the use of

   	#ifdef SYMBOL
   	...
   	#else
   	...
   	#endif
   and
   	#if EXPR
   	...
   	#else
   	...
   	#endif

   constructs, where SYMBOL is a Cpp symbol which may or may not
   be defined and EXPR is an arithmetic expression involving only
   Cpp symbols, constants and C operators which Cpp can evaluate
   to a constant at {compile time}.

   {Decus cpp} is a free implementation for {VMS}.

   The most widely used C preprocessor today is the {GNU} CPP,
   distributed as part of {GCC}.

   (2001-12-31)