Why isn't bool a built-in type?

**joshdick** · 01-06-2003

I was just wondering, why wasn't the bool type built-in to C++? That seems like it would've been a good idea.

**golfinguy4** · 01-06-2003

It is AFAIK.

**Polymorphic OOP** · 01-06-2003

It is. It wasn't in C, however.

**joshdick** · 01-06-2003

It is AFAIK.

Huh? What does that mean?

It is. It wasn't in C, however.

Really? Then why does my compiler give me an error whenever I use bool without including "bool.h"?

**Polymorphic OOP** · 01-06-2003

Because you are probably using a C compiler.

EDIT: Or perhaps a REALLY old C++ compiler?

**golfinguy4** · 01-06-2003

As Far As I Know...

What compiler are you using? I think bool is somewhat new.

**joshdick** · 01-06-2003

The copyrights on the compiler I use at home, MPW, are from 1985-1999. Is that the problem, then?

**Polymorphic OOP** · 01-06-2003

Yeah, most likely. You're best off getting a new compiler.

**joshdick** · 01-06-2003

Originally posted by Polymorphic OOP
Yeah, most likely. You're best off getting a new compiler.

I'd like to, but MPW is the only free compiler available for Macs. Oh well. I'm hopefully *crosses fingers* getting a new computer soon. In that case, I'll run Linux on it, and I believe that Linux comes with gcc.

**MrWizard** · 01-06-2003

You can always define your own bool type

Some people will tell you to define true as 1 and false as 0. I don't know about that, this is how I do it.

Code:

#define true ( 5 == 5 )
#define false ( !true )

typedef int bool;

**joshdick** · 01-06-2003

Thanks, but I already have a header file for bool:

Code:

#ifndef BOOL_H
#define BOOL_H
#undef true
#undef false
const int true = 1;
const int false = 0;
typedef int bool;
#endif

I was just complaining cuz I hafta include that in every program I write that uses boolean variables

**alpha** · 01-06-2003

Originally posted by MrWizard
You can always define your own bool type Some people will tell you to define true as 1 and false as 0. I don't know about that, this is how I do it.

Code:

#define true ( 5 == 5 ) #define false ( !true ) typedef int bool;

yeah, i learned true as 1 and false as 0, binary...
you could do it that way, or another way, (I think this is right)

Code:

enum bool {
      false, true
};

I'm not sure if that is how you implement an enumerated type, not sure on syntax, I haven't worked with enum that much.

**Frobozz** · 01-07-2003

You might also try checking for updates to MPW.

Here's a link I found to apple.com that allows for downloading it. And the file is dated 2001.

ftp://ftp.apple.com/developer/Tool_C...MPW-GM_Images/

As for compilers... I even found a C compiler for the old Commodore computers.

http://www.cc65.org/

**UnclePunker** · 01-07-2003

Just return 1 for true and 0 for false, I think that is what a bool type would do anyway it would just be masked with words, or you could define them.

Code:

#define FALSE 0
          #define TRUE !FALSE

Thats has always worked for me and I am using a very old compiler.

**UnclePunker** · 01-07-2003

Just return 1 for true and 0 for false, I think that is what a bool type would do anyway it would just be masked with words, or you could define them.

Code:

#define FALSE 0
#define TRUE !FALSE

Thats has always worked for me and I am using a very old compiler.

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