Why many programmers reluctant to using typedef for struct declarations?

Are there any potential disadvantages ?

I didn't even know we established that many programmers are actually reluctant to using typedef for struct declarations.

One consequence of typedef is that the fact the type is a struct gets lost. If you have

Code:

---

struct blah
{
  ...
};

int func(struct blah *ptr)
{
...
}

---

then it's clear that func's argument is a struct.

If, on the other hand we do:

Code:

---

typedef struct tagblah
{
...
} blah;

int func(blah *ptr)
{
...
}

---

It's not so clear from just reading the prototype that it's a structure.

Another consequence of typedef is that it (used as above) introduces TWO names to the global namespace, rather than one.

However, I agree with MacGyver, I don't believe that typedef's are underused by "many programmers".

--
Mats

Quote:

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Originally Posted by matsp

Another consequence of typedef is that it (used as above) introduces TWO names to the global namespace, rather than one.

---

Code:

---

typedef struct
{
  //...
} MyStruct;

---

It can't reference itself in that example.

But you can typedef it to have the same name.

Code:

---

typedef struct blah
{
    /*...*/
} blah;

---

Blah can reference itself and you can also choose whether you add struct when referring to blah or not.

Code:

---

void foo(struct blah* pb)
{
    /*...*/
}

---