Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!uwm.edu!uakari.primate.wisc.edu!ginosko!usc!henry.jpl.nasa.gov!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!gryphon!pnet02!martyp From: martyp@pnet02.gryphon.com (Martin Peckham) Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple Subject: Re: Orca/C V1.0 bugs Message-ID: <20574@gryphon.COM> Date: 5 Oct 89 02:00:36 GMT Sender: root@gryphon.COM Organization: People-Net [pnet02], Redondo Beach, CA. Lines: 67 mmunz@pro-beagle.cts.com (Mark Munz) writes: >Network Comment: to #11148 by usc!henry.jpl.nasa.gov!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!gryphon!pnet02!martyp@bloom-beacon.mit.edu > > >> The MAJOR differences between gnu C and ORCA/C are: >> >> 1. ORCA/C is reputed to be finished commercial software! As far as I'm >> concerned it never should have been released from BETA testing! >> >> 2. gnu C is "free" for the downloading... ORCA/C retails for $150.00 >> >> Mike Westerfield blew it by releasing it too early. I have found it tota >> unusable. >> >> Marty >> > > Did you expect it to be completely BUG FREE? Come on. I hope not. Any > large program will have all kinds of bugs that will never be found in > beta testing (no matter how long it is). > > I'm sure that languages are even more difficult to test. All the different > combinations that a language can have. Being a programmer, I've seen this > happen (where beta testing doesn't catch all). > > I say we force all publishers not to put out anything if there's even the > slighest chance of a bug in it. That way, there will be no software available > for us to buy and use. We can then go about and just play games, since all > the real applications will be in beta testing for 10, maybe 20 years.. > > As for comparing Orca/C and gnu C, you forgot to mention that gnu C isn't > available on the IIGS. And in fact, your only other option with C on a IIGS > is APW C (now there's a bug free language!). And remember, in the Mac & IBM > world, $150 is absolutely nothing. Most programs start at $200 and work their > way up. > >--Mark Munz No I don't expect bug free compilers or any other non-trivial program. I make my living writing software and I know from experience. What I expect is "USABLE" software. I'll not waste bandwidth here reiterating the bugs that someone else has already done. Look at the list and see if anyone can write anything usable considering those. Yes there are bugs in APW C and some of them are documented... unfortunately not by Apple... but none of them that I know of generate bad code. ORCA/C generates bad code. The prime example is: char *someptr = NULL; Disassemble that and you will find that the compiler generates code that would be equivalent of: char *someptr; *(long *)someptr = NULL; That transates into, put 4 zero bytes at an arbitrary place in memory!!!! Now, what other nasties are lurking that I haven't found. BTW, I will not find anymore because I will not use it. I will NOT pay to beta test somebody's software. Beta testing my own costs me enough. Marty UUCP: {ames!elroy, }!gryphon!pnet02!martyp INET: martyp@pnet02.gryphon.com