Bedtime Pointer tale

[AllVol]

While trying to get my head around the use of C language pointers, I came up with the following bit of drivel.

Hope it entertains, educates, or something.

Enjoy

*******************************
*
* Title:  Scratchpad
* Date:   12/4/09
* Author: AllVol
* Processor:     16F690
* Compiler:    HiTech 
*
* Studies the use of pointers and addresses
* 
*********************************/
#include <htc.h>
__CONFIG    (INTIO & WDTDIS & MCLRDIS & UNPROTECT);
 void waste_time(void)
 {
  unsigned short int t;
   for (t=0; t<=20000; t++){
    }
 }
 
 void main()
 {
 
 ANSEL = 0;
 TRISC = 0;
 PORTC = 0;
 
 while (1){   //    A POINTER TO WEALTH
 
 int fabulous_wealth;    //Great riches are locked up somewhere.
 int *trusted_courier;    //I will send a favored servant to bring them
 int my_table;      //to my table, for I do not know where to
 fabulous_wealth = 0x09;    //look for the treasure.
 
 trusted_courier = &fabulous_wealth;  //My man is given the address of the
 my_table = *trusted_courier;  //great fortune and spreads it before me
 PORTC = my_table;     //that I may bask in my wisdom and wealth.
 waste_time();      // forever.....
 PORTC ^=my_table;     //            and......
 waste_time();      //                     ever.
 }       //The  
 }       //   End

 

[birdman0_o]

LOL...btw , the colours are awesome
Thanks for this

 

[kchriste]

Good code needs few comments if you use a little imagination naming the variables and functions.
Some code out of the C30 Compiler User’s Guide:

void __attribute__((boot)) chuck_cookies()
{
int hurl;
int them = 55;
char *where = "far";
splat(where);
/* ... */
}

Much more fun in OOP:

//
class Animal { }
 class Cat extends Animal { }
  class Lolcat extends Cat { }
  class Longcat extends Cat { }
   class Tacgnol extends Longcat { }
 class Pokemon extends Animal { }
 class Human extends Animal { }
  class Trainer extends Human { }
//
while (Universe.hasMoreSpaceFor(longcat)) {
   longcat.length ++;
}
//
for (Cat lolcat : lolcats) {
   you.look(lolcat);
   you.lol();
}
//
if (lolcat.isHungry()) {
   if (lolcat.canFind(Cheeseburger.class)) {
      Cheeseburger chezburgr = (Cheeseburger) lolcat.find(Cheeseburger.class);
      lolcat.eat(chezburgr);
   } else {
      lolcat.die();
   }
}
//
while (you.hasMoreIdeas()) {
   Idea idea = you.nextIdea();
   if (idea instanceof Lolcat.Idea) {
      Image lolcatimage = you.getSkills(Skill.PHOTOSHOP).makeFromIdea(idea);
      Internet.post(lolcatimage, Internet.Type.IMAGE);
   }
}
//
try {
   Bomb[] bombs = (Bomb[]) you.onHand();
   for (Bomb bomb : bombs) {
      if (you.canFind(Human.class)) {
         Human target = you.find(Human.class);
         you.throwObject(bomb, target);
      }
   }
} catch (ClassCastException e) {
   while (you.canFind(Bomb.class)) {
      you.get(you.find(Bomb.class));
   }
}
//
if (PokemonWorld.inBattle(you)) {
   Pokemon wildPkmn = you.find(Pokemon.class);
   Pokemon yourPkmn = you.getParty().getPokemon("Turtwig").send();
   while (! wildPkmn.getStatus(Pokemon.FAINT)) {
      if (wildPkmn.getHp > 0.5) {
         yourPkmn.useMove("Tackle", wildPkmn);
      } else {
         Object result = ((PokeBall) you.getBag().find("Pok\x00E9 Ball")).throwAt(wildPkmn);
         if (result != null) {
            ((Pokedex) you.getItem("Pok\x00E9dex")).register(wildPkmn);
            break;
         }
      }
   }
}

 

[AllVol]

LOL...btw , the colours are awesome
Thanks for this

Thanks. Just thought I'd share. Can't see much use for pointers, save for the humongeous program with a crock-pot full of variables, however.

KChristie: LOL. I'm sure there are more than a few instances of "poetic license" found in programs.

 

[kchriste]

Can't see much use for pointers

Pointers are very usefull for passing a refernce to a large variable to a function. Function parameters in C are passed on the stack so if your variable is very large it may not even FIT on the remaining stack space. Plus just passing a 16bit pointer is way quicker than passing 32K of data on the stack.