This post originated from an RSS feed registered with Java Buzz by Chetan Sarva. Original Post: Making C Suck Less: One #define at a Time Feed Title: dot plan Feed URL: http://www.fw2.net/blojsom/blog/java/?flavor=rss2 Feed Description: there be dragons here Latest Java Buzz Posts Latest Java Buzz Posts by Chetan Sarva Latest Posts From dot plan

I used to write a lot of C. My variable names were rarely more than 3 characters in length. My functions were long and contained wild switch statements; I always made sure to free() what I malloc()ed; I tuned my code so that not only was it an unreadable mess, it was a fast unreadable mess.

I’m better now.

I’m writing a Ruby extension, Net::GeoIP, for work (they let me MIT it, so go nuts). Because I keep flipping back between Ruby and C during the development of this extension¹ (obviously) I have a constant reminder of the hoops I have to jump through in languages that aren’t as expressive as Ruby.

I’ve decided to just add some of these features myself, by abusing the pre-processor. Here’s a bit I thought I’d share:

#define unless(x) if (!(x))

unless(container == NULL) { GeoIP_delete(container->geoip); }

¹ Indeed, my tests are written in Ruby. I make them pass with C code. And I have a big wad of Rake love gluing it all together.