ON C EXTENSIONS, PORTABILITY, AND ALTERNATIVE COMPILERS

Summary from the TLDR Dev newsletter

Most real-world C code deviates from strict ISO standards by relying on language extensions and non-standard behaviors to bridge functional gaps or resolve compiler bugs. Alternative compilers face hurdles when attempting to parse system headers. These compatibility issues manifest in complex ways, including specific requirements for packed structures, peculiar header inclusion sequences, and inconsistent inline function semantics across different platforms.