The Package System
Author: JTC1/SC22/WG9/ARG, by Randall Brukardt, ARG Editor

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# 13.7 The Package System

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For each implementation there is a library package called System which includes the definitions of certain configuration-dependent characteristics.

#### Static Semantics

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The following language-defined library package exists:
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package System is
pragma Pure(System);
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type Name is implementation-defined-enumeration-type;
System_Name : constant Name := implementation-defined;
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-- System-Dependent Named Numbers:
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Min_Int : constant := root_integer'First;
Max_Int : constant := root_integer'Last;
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Max_Binary_Modulus : constant := implementation-defined;
Max_Nonbinary_Modulus : constant := implementation-defined;
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Max_Base_Digits : constant := root_real'Digits;
Max_Digits : constant := implementation-defined;
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Max_Mantissa : constant := implementation-defined;
Fine_Delta : constant := implementation-defined;
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Tick : constant := implementation-defined;
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-- Storage-related Declarations:
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type Address is implementation-defined;
Null_Address : constant Address;
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Storage_Unit : constant := implementation-defined;
Word_Size : constant := implementation-defined * Storage_Unit;
Memory_Size : constant := implementation-defined;
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-- Address Comparison:
function "<" (Left, Right : Address) return Boolean
with Convention => Intrinsic;
function "<="(Left, Right : Address) return Boolean
with Convention => Intrinsic;
function ">" (Left, Right : Address) return Boolean
with Convention => Intrinsic;
function ">="(Left, Right : Address) return Boolean
with Convention => Intrinsic;
function "=" (Left, Right : Address) return Boolean
with Convention => Intrinsic;
-- function "/=" (Left, Right : Address) return Boolean;
-- "/=" is implicitly defined
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-- Other System-Dependent Declarations:
type Bit_Order is (High_Order_First, Low_Order_First);
Default_Bit_Order : constant Bit_Order := implementation-defined;
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-- Priority-related declarations (see D.1):
subtype Any_Priority is Integer range implementation-defined;
subtype Priority is Any_Priority range Any_Priority'First ..
implementation-defined;
subtype Interrupt_Priority is Any_Priority range Priority'Last+1 ..
Any_Priority'Last;
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Default_Priority : constant Priority :=
(Priority'First + Priority'Last)/2;
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private
... -- not specified by the language
end System;
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Name is an enumeration subtype. Values of type Name are the names of alternative machine configurations handled by the implementation. System_Name represents the current machine configuration.
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The named numbers Fine_Delta and Tick are of the type universal_real; the others are of the type universal_integer.
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The meanings of the named numbers are:
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Min_Int
The smallest (most negative) value allowed for the expressions of a signed_integer_type_definition.
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Max_Int
The largest (most positive) value allowed for the expressions of a signed_integer_type_definition.
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Max_Binary_Modulus
A power of two such that it, and all lesser positive powers of two, are allowed as the modulus of a modular_type_definition.
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Max_Nonbinary_Modulus
A value such that it, and all lesser positive integers, are allowed as the modulus of a modular_type_definition.
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Max_Base_Digits
The largest value allowed for the requested decimal precision in a floating_point_definition.
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Max_Digits
The largest value allowed for the requested decimal precision in a floating_point_definition that has no real_range_specification. Max_Digits is less than or equal to Max_Base_Digits.
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Max_Mantissa
The largest possible number of binary digits in the mantissa of machine numbers of a user-defined ordinary fixed point type. (The mantissa is defined in Annex G.)
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Fine_Delta
The smallest delta allowed in an ordinary_fixed_point_definition that has the real_range_specification range –1.0 .. 1.0.
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Tick
A period in seconds approximating the real time interval during which the value of Calendar.Clock remains constant.
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Storage_Unit
The number of bits per storage element.
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Word_Size
The number of bits per word.
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Memory_Size
An implementation-defined value that is intended to reflect the memory size of the configuration in storage elements.
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Address is a definite, nonlimited type with preelaborable initialization (see 10.2.1). Address represents machine addresses capable of addressing individual storage elements. Null_Address is an address that is distinct from the address of any object or program unit.
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Default_Bit_Order shall be a static constant. See 13.5.3 for an explanation of Bit_Order and Default_Bit_Order.

#### Implementation Permissions

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An implementation may add additional implementation-defined declarations to package System and its children. However, it is usually better for the implementation to provide additional functionality via implementation-defined children of System.

#### Implementation Advice

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Address should be a private type.
NOTES
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17 There are also some language-defined child packages of System defined elsewhere.

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