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From: rwallace@vax1.tcd.ie
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: Compilers
Message-ID: <4016@vax1.tcd.ie>
Date: 5 Dec 89 10:25:04 GMT
References: <34886@spock.uucp>
Organization: Computer Laboratory, Trinity College Dublin
Lines: 51

In article <34886@spock.uucp>, drh@spock.uucp (David R. Hawley) writes:
> I'm considering purchasing either the latest Manx, or
> Lattice compilers.  What are the relative advantages
> of each compiler.  For example why does the Manx
> version I see sitting on the dealers shelf cost $150
> and the Lattice version cost $250?  Which one is more
> "UNIX like"?  Which one do more developers use, ie.
> developers on the Fred Fish disks?  Is one better for
> graphics, and so on....

- Manx is more UNIX like, it comes with grep, make, diff and a few other
things. Both compilers have utilities which only come with the high-end
version.

- Manx is faster at compiling.

- Manx has an assembler phase and the assembler is better for stand-alone use
than anything else I've seen other than ArgAsm. Lattice has no assembler phase
but still manages to take longer to compile.

- Manx is a lot more compact which is brilliant if you're trying to cram stuff
into RAM disk on a machine with limited memory. Also means it loads off disk
faster.

- Lattice uses standard object file format. Manx doesn't, which makes it
difficult to link with other compilers/assemblers.

- More existing code is written for Lattice because it was the compiler
originally available. Right now I'd say developers are more or less evenly
divided.

- Manx has precompiled include files which are a lot better than Lattice's
compact include files.

- Manx 3.6 is original K&R C. Lattice 5.0 is full ANSI C.

- Usually Manx generates more compact code, Lattice generates slightly faster
code.

- Both compilers now have source level debuggers, both have a choice of 16 or
32 bit ints, both have optional run-time stack checking.

I myself use Manx 3.6 mainly on the grounds of the compiler being more compact
and faster, but I'm thinking of switching to Lattice C because of the full ANSI
compliance and the standard object file format. Of course, I'd still use the
Aztec UNIX utilities.

"To summarize the summary of the summary: people are a problem"
Russell Wallace, Trinity College, Dublin
VMS:  rwallace@vax1.tcd.ie
UNIX: rwallace@unix1.tcd.ie