Because C compilers exist on a variety of computers, some C applications developed for one computer system can be ported to other systems. However, some aspects of language behavior depend on how a particular C compiler is implemented and how a specific computer operates. Therefore, when designing a program to be ported to another system, it is important that you examine programming assumptions.
This chapter describes programming assumptions that can affect writing portable programs.
The American National Standards Institute Standard for the C Language (the ANSI Standard) details every instance where language behavior is defined by the implementation. Appendix B in the C Language Reference manual summarizes implementation-defined behavior for Microsoft C.