Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!uwm.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!apple!portal!cup.portal.com!phorgan
From: phorgan@cup.portal.com (Patrick John Horgan)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.tech
Subject: Re: Lattice vs Manx
Message-ID: <31738@cup.portal.com>
Date: 15 Jul 90 01:26:45 GMT
References: <544@beguine.UUCP> <10018@wehi.dn.mu.oz>
Organization: The Portal System (TM)
Lines: 37

In article <544@beguine.UUCP>, Scott.Maxwell@samba.acs.unc.edu (BBS Account) wr
ites:
+     Uh, I'm a little confused by what I've read regarding Lattice C v. Aztec
+C. Everybody seems to say (a) Aztec usually produces faster code, (b) Aztec
+usually produces the code faster (that is to say, it compiles faster),
+(c) Aztec is cheaper, and (d) Lattice is more widely used.
+     Now, that can't all be right -- unless Lattice has *vastly* superior
+advertising or something, and I can't imagine that would be enough to make th
e
+difference. Assuming I'm right about points (a), (b) and (c), though, why the
+heck is (d) true? Does Lattice offer better support? What have I missed?
+
+--
+Scott Maxwell (CSMAXWEL@ECUVM1.BITNET or Scott.Maxwell@samba.acs.unc.edu)
You got me.  I think that there are two reasons.  First, the Lattice compiler
was initially, the "official" compiler, i.e. the people from C= used it.
The other reason is that they got their ANSI "compatible" compiler out first.
That could be a bad point too, though, since if you compare the volume of
reports of Lattice 5.0 bugs to Manx's 5.0 bugs it's pretty clear that 
Lattice should have waited and done more beta testing before release.  I've
used both in most releases and myself consistently prefer Manx.  The people 
at Manx are really nice and VERY helpful (a nice change from the early days).
Mike Spille, the sysop of their bulletin board is a nice guy who will ALWAYS
bend over backward to fix your problem (even when it's your own bone-headed
error:).  Owners of 5.0 can call and immediately get 5.0c shipped to them.
Call their toll-free sales number, 800-221-0440, (out of country use the 
international sales number 201-542-2121).  If you've already got 5.0b don't
have a cow man:)  5.0c just has a little change in the installation program.
The compiler et.al. are all unchanged.  (I checked with Mike when I heard 
about 5.0c, being a little paranoid myself;).  
	One nice thing, it's much easier to port the Lattice code to Manx
and vice-versa since the two ANSI compatible compilers came out.  Usually 
it's just a matter of changing a couple of includes.  I think the competition
between Manx and Lattice (SAS) is great.  I wish SAS had more competition on
mainframes.  I hate their 370 assembler (not related to the Amiga one).

Patrick Horgan                          phorgan@cup.portal.com