Confusing bit shifting result

Code:

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#include <iostream>

int main(void){
    unsigned int foo = 0xFFFFFFFF;

    //i'd think these would return the same result, but
    //they don't in visual studio 2010 (debug/release).  why?
    std::cout<< (foo << 32) << " " << (0xFFFFFFFF << 32) <<std::endl;
    return 0;
}

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This came up cause I was trying to clear bits in a loop and some cases required clearing the entire value. I was trying to do so in a branch-free manner.

For one thing, 0xFFFFFFFF is signed. For another, trying to shift more than or as many bits as there are bits in the left operand (after integral promotion) results in undefined behaviour.

Even when cast to an unsigned int, I got the same result. I never knew shifting a uint by 32 bits was undefined. Always assumed it'd be filled with 0's.

You need to crank up your warnings. gcc says:
[Warning] left shift count >= width of type

you haven't said anything about your loop.

clear foo with xor:

Code:

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std::cout<< (foo^foo) << " " << (0xFFFFFFFF ^ 0xFFFFFFFF) <<std::endl;

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by c coder

clear foo with xor:

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...Or just write 0 to it.