[linux-audio-dev] newest audio server for Linux (yep, yet another)

[Paul Davis]

>Gee, thanks. But Bjarne Stroustrup was probably writing about C++, which
>allows constants to be associated with a class:
>
>    const double Synth::DEFAULT_FRAME_RATE = 44100.0;
>
>For C++, this construct is preferable to using a #define because the scope
>is limited to the class and would not conflict with, for example:
>
>    const double Video::DEFAULT_FRAME_RATE = 30.0;
>
>That is a great feature of C++ but PortAudio is using 'C' not C++. So I
>think our only choices are #define and enum. PortAudio uses both.
>
>    http://www.portaudio.com/docs/v19-doxydocs/portaudio_8h.html
>
>Are enums better than #defines?? I am always trying to improve my 'C' chops
>so I am open to suggestions.

the objections you raise apply to #define's and enums as well. they
are just as subject to namespace collisions as other names, hence the
C habit of:

  #define __some_unique_prefix__now_the_real_part__  ...

the major benefit of using constants is type-safety.