I would prefer to have the compiler assume all integers as being unsigned.
However, what do most C calls expect? signed or unsigned values?
If unsigned then I don't quite get having signed values as the default and having to manually type unsigned before each variable.
Programming languages are supposed to take the work out of programming, not add to it.
Any issues with me telling the compiler to assume unsigned integers?

The compiler assumes nothing about signed/unsigned : this is all about you to define the type you want be it signed or unsigned.

If you use exec/types.h to define your vars, there is a one char overhead for unsigned.

Use ULONG instead of unsigned long for example.

C function calls expect the type defined and nothing else. For OS calls, look at prototypes.

If you use Scribble editor, there is hint for function arguments.

About GCC, there is a switch for signed/unsigned char. See signed/unsigned chars

Both signed and unsigned values have their uses. If you don't need negative numbers, it feels "natural" to use unsigned, but then again, with int, you lose "only" half of the range, which usually isn't really critical.

Even if unsigned int does feel more natural, sometimes signed still has some benefits. Consider following code:
unsigned int a=b-c-d-e;

As such, there's no issue. BUT if it's possible for a to end up negative (in which case, it's not processed at all) things can become more complex.

You can write something like:
a=b;
if(a>=c) a-=c; else break;
if(a>=d) a-=d; else break;
if(a>=e) a-=e; else break;
DoSomething(a);

However, this becomes MUCH more simple with signed:
int a=b-c-d-e;
if(a>=0) DoSomething(a); // Safe signed => unsigned cast

Also, unsigned values can be often used for "special cases" (errors etc.) when all "valid" values are positive.

But whenever using functions, it's a bit faster, if your variable types match those of arguments & return values.

thanks
Amazing I understand everything you just said.
I spent an hour reading C - The complete reference and picked up a ton of info.
The dummies book is too low on the totem pole for me.

Don't use unsigned variables.
On a 32 bit cpu unsigned variables are superfluous.