[boost] [integer] Create (u)int_natural_t

From: Daryle Walker (darylew_at_[hidden])
Date: 2005-09-29 01:40:47

The "int" type was supposed to match the processor's natural built-in
integer processor.  That was easy to maintain in the 16- and 32-bit eras,
but got screwed up when we started 64-bit computing.  The C and C++
communities decided to expand its integer types by keeping the current types
at their 32-bit-era sizes and extended the type system with a "long long"
instead of moving "int" and "long" up and adding a "short short".  Now we
don't have a convenient way to name the best integer type in a portable
fashion.  I suggest we add a "int_natural_t" typedef to <boost/cstdint.hpp>
to name the best integer type (and a corresponding "uint_natural_t").  We
would have to research what that type is for each compiler and/or platform
combination and use #conditionals.

-- 
Daryle Walker
Mac, Internet, and Video Game Junkie
darylew AT hotmail DOT com