Function and parameter attributes

These macros defined in <debug.h> tell the compiler special attributes of a function or function parameter. Their expansions are GCC-specific.

UNUSED

Appended to a function parameter to tell the compiler that the parameter might not be used within the function. It suppresses the warning that would otherwise appear.

NO_RETURN

Appended to a function prototype to tell the compiler that the function never returns. It allows the compiler to fine-tune its warnings and its code generation.

NO_INLINE

Appended to a function prototype to tell the compiler to never emit the function in-line. Occasionally useful to improve the quality of backtraces (see below).

PRINTF_FORMAT (format, first)

Appended to a function prototype to tell the compiler that the function takes a printf-like format string as the argument numbered format (starting from 1) and that the corresponding value arguments start at the argument numbered first. This lets the compiler tell you if you pass the wrong argument types.