__volatile__ __asm__

volatile is a C keyword, and programmers know better than using asm as an identifier. Why do people insist on using double underscores around them, especially Linux kernel developers?

Also, why do people use things like __attribute__((aligned(n))) instead of defining a macro ALIGNED(n)?

>>1

Some old compilers do not understand the volatile keyword. (I know, this is no excuse, but "kernel developers" are rather ill-evolved people.)

And why should one bother with defining a macro?