Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!wuarchive!kuhub.cc.ukans.edu!markv
From: MARKV@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu (MARK GOODERUM - UNIV. OF KANSAS ACS - MARKV@UKANVAX)
Newsgroups: comp.lang.c++
Subject: Re: How common are C++ compilers?
Message-ID: <19743@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu>
Date: 14 Dec 89 00:02:06 GMT
References: <2351@draken.nada.kth.se>
Organization: University of Kansas Academic Computing Services
Lines: 50

In article <2351@draken.nada.kth.se>, matsl@nada.kth.se (Mats Luthman) writes:
> Is C++ a suitable implementation language if you are going to develop a
> fairly large program that you want to run on many different systems?
> 
> Are there C++ compilers for all major operating systems (IBM systems, VMS,
> all UNIX systems, MS-DOS and extended memory (4 Mbyte and more, maybe
> generating 386 code), OS/2)? Is there a greater chance of finding an Ada
> compiler than a C++ compiler on a randomly chosen system?

C++ compilers are available on a variety of systems.  PC-DOS, Macintosh,
Amigas (I enjoy this one...), Unix, and OS/2 and more.  I'd say chances
are about equal with C++ maybe having a slight edge on PCs and Ada having
a slight edge in minis and mainframes.

> How portable is C++ code between different systems?

Like C or most other high level languages, C++ is VERY portable IF you only
do things defined in the language.  Of course accessing the BIOS on aDOS
application, or using the graphics coprocessor on the Amiga aren't very
portable.
 
> Are the C++ compilers on UNIX good (fast, error free et.c.)? Which SUN
> computers does the GNU C++ compiler run on?

Couldn't say, although I have heard g++ (GNU C++) does have some compatibility
problems.

> If you want to port to a system that only has a C compiler, are there
> any chances whatsoever of getting the C code you get from the AT&T C++
> compiler to run on it?

The AT&T C++ preprocessor 'cfront' used in many systems outputs real honest
to goodness C code.  You could in theory compile your code on a C++ system
and take the C code back to your little machine.  The problem with this
approach is the Cplusplus library that contains many functions reference
by the C code cfront produces.  You COULD liscense the stuff from AT&T
and port it, but that would be major would and lots of $$.

Honestly, I cant think of any system (of sufficient size to support a 
'decent' development environmen) that doesnt have C++ available except
if your doing embedded systems development, in which case there are 
C++ cross development systems coming out for most processor families.
 
> Mats Luthman
-- 
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Mark Gooderum					   Academic Computing Services
MARKV@UKANVAX.BITNET					  University of Kansas
	"Merry Christmas and thank goodness the year is over!"
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