-/* Define a "very long" type useful for storing large non-negative
- integers, e.g. the total number of bytes downloaded. This needs to
- be an integral type at least 64 bits wide. On the machines where
- `long' is 64-bit, we use long. Otherwise, we check whether `long
- long' is available and if yes, use that. Otherwise, we give up and
- just use `long'. */
+/* Define a large ("very long") type useful for storing large
+ non-negative quantities that exceed sizes of normal download, such
+ as the *total* number of bytes downloaded. To fit today's needs,
+ this needs to be an integral type at least 64 bits wide. On the
+ machines where `long' is 64-bit, we use long. Otherwise, we check
+ whether `long long' is available and if yes, use that. If long
+ long is unavailable, we give up and just use `long'.
+
+ This check could be smarter and moved to configure, which could
+ check for a bunch of non-standard types such as uint64_t. But I
+ don't see the need for it -- the current test will work on all
+ modern architectures, and if it fails, nothing bad happens, we just
+ end up with long.
+
+ Note: you cannot use VERY_LONG_TYPE along with printf(). When you
+ need to print it, use very_long_to_string(). */
+