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From: gbastin@x102c.harris-atd.com (Gary Bastin 60293)
Newsgroups: comp.lang.c
Subject: Re: Power C
Message-ID: <5437@trantor.harris-atd.com>
Date: 6 Feb 91 14:19:19 GMT
References: <1450@crpmks.UUCP>
Sender: news@trantor.harris-atd.com
Reply-To: gbastin@x102c.ess.harris.com (Gary Bastin 60293)
Organization: Harris Corporation GSS, Melbourne, Florida
Lines: 54

In article <1450@crpmks.UUCP> dans@crpmks.UUCP (Dan Simoes (Info Systems)) writes:
>I just received the latest "Byte block" or whatever it's called, and there is
>an offer for "Power C -- the ANSI compatible C complier that runs faster than
>Microsoft C, has more functions than Turbo C, and costs less than the K&R
>book." 


[I tried mailing this directly, but it bounced...]

I have been using Power C for about 2 years now.  This includes
both versions 1.2, and the relatively recent version 2.0.  

It is a very good C compiler, giving performance (speed of .exe, and
size of .exe) that is comparable to Turbo C and usually better than
Microsoft C.  Although early versions limited you to just one
memory model, now there are multiple memory models available.  It 
tends to be compatible with Turbo, Microsoft and System V, with
almost a complete superset of functions that are available under
these.  The debugger (Ctrace) is much better than codeview or even
the debugger built into Turbo C.  Mix only charges $5.00 for upgrades
to later versions, and the source code is available for $10.00, and
this includes an assembler!

On the down side, if you have .LIB or .OBJ files that you wish to 
link, then, unfortunately, this is where Power C fails to perform.
Mix uses a proprietary .MIX object file format, and, although there
is a conversion utility, I have not been able to always link in
.OBJ or .LIB files created with Turbo C or Microsoft C.  If you
do not need to link in these files (you have all the source code), then
Power C is fine. This was the reason I bought Turbo C, BTW!

One last note:  the documentation provided with Power C is VASTLY
SUPERIOR to the documentation provided with Turbo C Version 2.0.  I
own both, and often refer to the Power C book because there are 
code snippets demonstrating each and every function.  For some
of the functions that I don't often use, the Power C book is a 
great timesaver.  I bought Power C when I was taking a course in
C programming, and it was great for learning C.  It is still very
useful now for day to day work, although Turbo C tends to produce
slightly smaller .exe files for the same source code.  Power C, though,
is a bargain; it is well worth the price (~$55 for compiler, debugger,
source code, and the excellent documentation!).  [ I have no
connection with Mix Software except as a satisfied customer ].


-- 
Gary Bastin, WB4YAF      /-/-/      Internet: gbastin@x102c.ess.harris.com
Mail Stop 102-4826         |        phone: (407) 729-3045
Harris Corporation GASD    |        
P.O.B. 94000, Melbourne FL 32902    Speaking from, but not for, Harris! 
Gary Bastin, WB4YAF      /-/-/      Internet: gbastin@x102c.ess.harris.com
Mail Stop 102-4826         |        phone: (407) 729-3045
Harris Corporation GASD    |        
P.O.B. 94000, Melbourne FL 32902    Speaking from, but not for, Harris!