How to identity processor architecture

[Mandeep Sandhu]

> I guess a 64bit processor does need 64bit addresses to reference memory. But
> at the same time, if 32 bit programs are to run unmodified on 64 bit
> architectures there needs to be ways in which 32bit pointers can still work.
> So, I am almost 100% sure that compiling 32bit code, even on a 64bit
> processor, should yield 4 for sizeof(void*)

You are 100% right. Tried this on  2 laptops:

printf("Is this a %s-bit machine?\n", ((sizeof(void*) == 4) ? "32" : "64"));

32-Bit ubuntu (10.10) on 64-bit proc:
"Is this a 32-bit machine?"

64-Bit ubuntu (10.10) on 64-bit proc:
"Is this a 64-bit machine?"

Regards,
-mandeep

> Enrico Granata
> Computer Science & Engineering Department (EBU3B) - Room 3240
> office phone 858 534 9914
> University of California, San Diego
>
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