Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!van-bc!rsoft!mindlink!a665
From: a665@mindlink.UUCP (Anthon Pang)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Amiga Modula-2 News/Comments/Info
Message-ID: <2045@mindlink.UUCP>
Date: 8 Jun 90 17:14:12 GMT
Organization: MIND LINK! - British Columbia, Canada
Lines: 67

Hey, did anyone else read the Bug Bytes section in the Vol5 Iss6 of Amazing
Computing ?  If you own Avant-Garde's Benchmark Modula-2 for the Amiga, you'll
recognize the name: LEON FRENKEL.

According to Mr Frenkel, he & a "partner", established Preferred Technologies,
and acquired M2Sprint from M2S.  He emphasized, "separate" companies...he
stated, the compilers would not be merged, and implied that both compilers
would be supported.  So where's the competition? the incentive to produce a
better product?  (ala C wars between Manx & Lattice...Dice :))--TDI...no
contest, M2Amiga...they don't follow the traditional Amiga includes method of
naming type identifers--ie TopEdge vs topEdge.

M2Sprint looked to be a Benchmark Buster...boasting more features, better
optimization, and more libraries...but alas, for more bucks.  Martin
Taillefer, formerly of M2S, posted to comp.lang.modula2, that he was
"working on another [Modula-2] programming environment for the Amiga", to be
released in the spring.  He also noted, that development of version 2.0 of
M2Sprint & the debugger, were halted when he left M2S, in October 89.

If you're considering getting into programming in Modula-2 on the Amiga, wait
a while...when the dust clears after the release of Martin's new product and
the forthcoming os 2.0 upgrade from Avant-Garde, a clear victor will arise
(btw, my money's on Martin...hmmm, is net.betting a net.offense?).

PS. I do own the Benchmark compiler...it is a good product but I have nits
with it:
  1) doesn't optimize out link a5,-$0000 / unlk a5 pair
  2) can't generate pure code
  3) doesn't have a "smart linker"
  4) the 64K limit applies to TYPEs, too...so AllocMem'ing is not a solution.
Except for #1, the chances of #2-4 making it into a compiler upgrade, anytime
rsn, is close to NIL, IMHO.

PPS. If you've got credit on CIS, Avant-Garde offers a "try before you buy"
offer on their Source Level Debugger, BUT, ONLY if you download it from their
library section on CI$ (ie don't pirate it...actually, don't pirate, period).
Also, email through the Compuserve gateway to Avant-Garde/Leon Frenkel is
possible through the following address:  76004.2002@compuserve.com

PPPS. There's also a few interesting archives on xanth, for the Benchmark
system, available for ftp'ing. In the /incoming/amiga/modula2_benchmark
directory (well, there was, when I looked, a couple weeks ago):
     bm2arp.lzh - arp.library glue routines
     bm2asm.lzh - alternate method of interfacing assembly
                  code--especially if your assembler isn't
                  Metacomco compatible
     bm2ced.lzh - Resident program to launch compiler and
                  linker from CED...binds commands to
                  Arexx function keys (so you'll need Arexx)
     bm2cr.lzh  - co-routines module (to appear in the next
                  release of the Benchmark libraries)
     bm2lib.lzh - os 1.3 Benchmark libraries revision
     bm2sp.lzh  - process spawning code

These appear to be a compilation from different sources.  My thanks to the
fine people who take the time to upload all sorts of useful things to xanth.
I hope we'll see some new Schwartz demos when school's out for Eric :)

----
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#      #  Wow! I can see! This VISOR Video Toaster/Oven attachment is great...
{||||||}  ...oops, maybe I shouldn't...it's not UFPCC approved yet.
|  `'  |
 \ ~~ /   Naahhh.  Besides, it makes better toast than the EnterBOING's
__|  |___ food dispensers, too.
__\__/__/
       A                                        [just a Trekker with an Amiga]