The current metadata packing mechanism relies on that unsigned int being 4 bytes. However, it might not be the case, as Peter puts it:
"I'm also moderately concerned about the use of type punning. Part of this is HDF's fault for using unsigned integers (which are not safe for this purpose; only unsigned char is), which need not be 32 bits wide (e.g., the LP32 and (S)ILP64 data models use 16 or 64 bits)."
The current metadata packing mechanism relies on that
unsigned intbeing 4 bytes. However, it might not be the case, as Peter puts it:"I'm also moderately concerned about the use of type punning. Part of this is HDF's fault for using unsigned integers (which are not safe for this purpose; only unsigned char is), which need not be 32 bits wide (e.g., the LP32 and (S)ILP64 data models use 16 or 64 bits)."