title: Fixed-width integers in C++
body: <p>Occasionally I need to use fixed-width integers for communication with external devices like PLCs. I also use them to define bitmasks and perform bit manipulation of image data. AFAIK the C99 standard defines fixed-width integers like int16_t. However the compiler I use, VC++ 2008 doesn't support C99 and AFAIK Microsoft is not planning to support it. </p>
  
  <p>My question is what is the best practice for using fixed-width integers in C++? </p>
  
  <p>I know that VC++ defines non-standard fixed-width integers like __int16, but I am hesitant to use a non-standard type. Will the next C++ standard define fixed-width integers?    </p>