First version of alignment functions (imported from suma* programs)

src/utils.h

@@ -53,4 +53,25 @@ int count_dir(char* dir_path);
 char* obi_format_date(time_t date);
 
 
+/**
+ * @brief Allocates a chunk of memory aligned on 16 bytes boundary.
+ *
+ * @warning The pointer returned must be freed by the caller.
+ * @warning The memory chunk pointed at by the returned pointer can be
+ *          smaller than the size asked for, since the address is shifted
+ *          to be aligned.
+ *
+ * @param size The size in bytes of the memory chunk to be allocated.
+ * 			   Ideally the closest multiple of 16 greater than the wanted size.
+ * @param shift A pointer on an integer corresponding to the shift made to align
+ * 				the address. Used to free the memory chunk.
+ *
+ * @returns The pointer on the aligned memory.
+ *
+ * @since May 2016
+ * @author Celine Mercier (celine.mercier@metabarcoding.org)
+ */
+void* obi_get_memory_aligned_on_16(int size, int* shift);
+
+
 #endif /* UTILS_H_ */