In message <199603292006.MAA22386@netcom23.netcom.com>you write:
> > > -Wuninitialized is a good warning, but since it's not 100%, I don't
> > > recommend combining it with -Werror.  Some people get around this by
> > > always initializing the variable to some dummy value.  I think this
> > > is terrible practice, as it defeats the ability of run-time tools 
> > > that track variable usage to detect uninitialized variable usage.
> > 
> > Well, isn't the point to avoid uninitialized variables?
> > If you initialize it, haven't you solved the problem?
> 
> I don't think so.  When a program "acts" on an unintialized variable,
> most often it's a case that the programmer didn't anticipate (ie. a
> bug).  If a the variable is initialized "just to shut the compiler
> up", there is no telling that the program will behave as intended when
> that dummy value is acted upon either.
> 
> 	--jtc

It depends.  If there is a safe value that you can initialize it
to, you're okay.

If there isn't a safe value to initialize it to at compile time,
perhaps add a comment /* Complaint from gcc about variable <foo>
uninitialized is okay, as of <date>.  <name> */
When someone modifies the code, they should verify that it
is still okay, and update the comment.  (Not a wonderful
solution, I know.)

The real solution is to figure out a way to make gcc smarter.

-Dave