C Language Profile

Objectives

The SPIRIT C Language profile was created because it helps meet the SPIRIT goal of application portability.

This profile includes detailed specifications for the base standards, including implementation-defined items and numerical limits that are not defined by the base standards. Therefore, application programs written in SPIRIT C may be ported with minimal modification across different SPIRIT Platforms. The selection of features in the SPIRIT C Language profile was based on users' business requirements.

Applicability

The SPIRIT Issue 3.0 C Language profile is intended to be used for procurements by SPIRIT Service Providers to specify the characteristics of the C language within 6 to 12 months after publication. For procurements before the SPIRIT Issue 3.0 timeframe, Service Providers should use the SPIRIT Issue 2.0 C Language profile.

The SPIRIT C Language profile is also intended to be used in conjunction with other SPIRIT APIs that have a C-language binding.

SPIRIT Profiles

The actual specifications of the SPIRIT Issue 3.0 C Language profile are published electronically (see Preface for details).

Specifications

The SPIRIT C Language profile complies with the following standards:

• ISO/IEC 9899:1990, Programming Languages - C (technically identical to ANSI standard X3.159-1989).

• ISO/IEC 9899:1990/Amendment 1:1994, Multibyte Support Extensions (MSE) for ISO C.

This profile improves application portability by eliminating as many differences among implementations as is possible. However, some of the implementation-defined items are not defined because of differences in the characteristics of hardware, and so on. These implementation-defined items should be taken into account so they will not hamper application portability. For this purpose, an application program portability guide for C Language is also available electronically (see Preface ).