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From: Dominique.Willems@p4610.f46.n295.z2.fidonet.org (Dominique Willems)
Newsgroups: comp.lang.modula2
Subject: TopSpeed Modula V2
Message-ID: <1526.269CC92E@puddle.fidonet.org>
Date: 8 Jul 90 23:34:00 GMT
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 > How are your experiences with the new JPI version?

Eh, well, on the overall, it's not bad at all, at least the ideas behind it 
are great. The Object Oriented extension is a great improvement.
But the library modules delivered with the package are a lot more "C-ish" 
now, and I doubt if this benefits Modula-2. Although, there are quite a few 
extensions to their library, for practically every module.
My .EXE files grew A LOT larger with the new compiler, but this doesn't 
mean the size of the programmes in the TPA is larger, on the contrary, with 
all the optimization options you can gain quite some space compared to the 
older compiler. The large size of the .EXE files is simply due to the fact 
that their linker doesn't pack the uninitialized data anymore, like C, they 
say. But if you have the EXEPACK programme that's delivered with the 
Microsoft Assembler, you can pack the files without any problems. They will 
bring out a "Modula-2 EXE file packer" themselves shortly.

The Storage module has undergone some changes (additions) too, though this 
doesn't always add to the clarity of the whole memory allocation system.
This is mainly because of the newly introduced Memory Models. You can have 
them in all sorts and sizes, just as with any C-compiler nowadays.

The environment is great, with all the utilities you need, 9 editing 
windows, macro capability, automatic language detection during compilation 
among other nicies.

The documentation has not improved (on the contrary). But new documentation 
is under way, it seems. 

 > Is it a good idea to do the upgrade?

Well, I think this package is a very complete one, with a very powerful 
compiler, and certainly worth the upgrade.
But, just not yet, wait for another month (or two) until they bring out the 
next release (the one after 1.04b). The release I have, is a weird one, 
plenty of bugs all over the place I'm afraid. The release of new documentation
is also worth the wait, I think.
When you take this package, purge it of all its bugs and add realistic 
documentation, you've got yourself a very powerful development tool.

So, if I were in your shoes, I'd hang in there with my older version until 
all the child's diseases have left V2.

Regards,
Dominique


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