6 char externs and the ANSI standard

[hammond at mouton.UUCP]

Since the problem for older computers is the
linker and not the compiler, the compiler should generate errors
whenever it sees identifiers which should be distinct but won't
be to the linker, either in number of sig. chars or in case!

i.e:   int this_is_one_identifier; int this_is_another;

should generate errors on compilers whose linkers only distinguish
the first 8 chars or less.

Also: int THIS_IS_ONE_IDENTIFIER; int this_is_one_identifier;

should generate errors if the linker is not case-sensitive.

Then it is OK to specify a minimum 6 char/case insensitive minimum.
After all, if you're compiling, you do have the source and can edit
it IF the compiler warns you about problems.

Rich Hammond, Bell Communications Research