> "Because I feel like it" is as valid a reason as "because the standard says so".
How about "I want my programs to work" vs. "My programs work by magic so long as I use the codemangler 3.0 compiler".

Why stop there?
char *str ; gets(str);
usually had a pretty good chance of success, for DOS programmers.
Does that make them good, or just lucky?

Something else you might want to consider.
If you thought learning C was hard the first time around, just try unlearning a bunch of crap C because you new codescribbler 4.2 compiler complains about all sorts of things, and the OS just lays your program out cold whenever it touches an illegal pointer.

Do you?
a) re-learn a bunch of compiler specific tricks for each new compiler.
b) learn ANSI-C and stop worrying about when the next incompatibility is gonna bits your ass.

I did "a" exactly once, and it sucked!

Oh, and it's not just hypothetical waffle.
http://users.aber.ac.uk/auj/voidmain.shtml
At least one REAL machine barfs on void main.

Do you think all this internet stuff works because
a) everyone followed the standards
b) everyone did their own thing which "worked for me" in their own little corner of the universe.

Or how about two banks transferring money. Bank A sends it in hex, and bank B receives it in decimal, do you
a) congratulate the programmers on their sense of individualism
b) hammer down the doors screaming "where's my **** money!?"

but, but... Microsoft did it!

DOS has all the hallmarks of a "there are no rules" embedded system.
- limited memory
- no memory protection
- limited interrupt capability
- poor device support
- only able to run one program at once without resorting to hacks.

So it appears I have already pissed off a purist.

I'm not bashing standards all together, but doing something for the sake of the standard where it saves me a bit of effort to do it in another way that works just as well is retarded. So what if some arbitrary machine somewhere in space won't run my code? And yes jephthah, Microsoft did it. Look at how many non-standard things Microsoft does and gets away with. I deserve some of that action too.

Everyone should use void main if only to be daring.

My mistake, this is a joke thread after all - carry on.

i think he's only half joking.

which means he's half-serious.

which means you'll never pin him down long enough to get the win.

half joking + half serious = complete ass

Spoon boy: Do not try and correct void main. That's impossible. Instead... only try to realize the truth.
Neo: What truth?
Spoon boy: There is no void main.
Neo: There is no void main?
Spoon boy: Then you'll see, that it is not the void main what you correct, it is only yourself.

I fixed that for you.

> I fixed that for you.

You shouldn't, really. You just proved his point. :-)