Data structure alignment: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 21:31, 23 May 2006

Revision as of 23:29, 23 May 2006

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figure out which word or words contained the data and extract the equivalent

value. This caused difficulty when the team from [[Mosaic Software]] ported

their [[Twin Spreadsheet]] to the [[68000]] based [[Atari ST]]. The Intel [[8086]]

architecture had no such restrictions. It would also

cause difficulties in porting Microsoft Office to Windows NT on [[MIPS]]

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in mind, designers had to set a bit in the O/S to enable non-aligned data.

However since this bit was masked with other flags, it was impossible to

keep the O/S from faulting on non-aligned data, andwhen bothother modules used the other flags. This may have been a major factor in abandoning Windows NT on non-Intel processors as they failed as platforms ulimatelyfor hosting common Windows applications and

one more reason for the continuedbaffling dominance of the x86 architecture over technologically elegant rivals.

failed as platforms for hosting Windows applications. This is a classic

instance of programming convenience winning out over careful design for speed, and

one reason for the continued dominance of the x86 architecture over rivals.

== Technical View==