Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!wuarchive!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!think.com!linus!philabs!crpmks!dans From: dans@crpmks.UUCP (Dan Simoes ) Newsgroups: comp.lang.c Subject: Power C - here's the summary Message-ID: <1457@crpmks.UUCP> Date: 13 Feb 91 13:30:26 GMT Reply-To: dans@crpmks.UUCP (Dan Simoes (Info Systems)) Organization: Ciba-Geigy Corporation Lines: 221 I posted the following request: 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." Sounds like another Coherent to me... If anyone is using this, or has used it before, please let me know. By the way, the price is $19.95! And here are the responses: --------------------------- 1 ----------------------------------------- I use Power C a lot. I find it to be a great bargain for $19.95. It has most all the functions I will ever need on a PC. I suppose if you are a heavy DOS hacker, you might be able to find faults with it. But if you just need a C compiler that will do the job, and do it well, Power C is for you. FYI, it produces an object file called filename.mix instead of the usual filename.obj. But you have a utility to convert a .mix file to a .obj file. For casual use, it is the best (and for the price too). By the way, Mix isn't too bad if you don't push it very hard. In other words, yes, another Coherent. It doesn't handle arrays of functions very well, and the /q switch to create Microsoft-compatible object files doesn't do anything at all. If you want to link with higher-level languages, there is simply no way to do it. In defense of Mix, it is cheap, compiles most of your applications just dandy, and the debugger (another $20 + handling) is nifty. I, however, went ahead and blew the $140 for Turbo C Professional after hitting the wall too many times with Mix. So judge for yourself. ---------------------------- 2 ----------------------------------------- I have Power C and like it just fine. It has an optimizing pass, an easy to use project file build capability, and a very good manual w/ a C Tutorial, C reference, and library reference, as well as descriptions of all the compiler and linker options; the book alone is worth $19.95. I think it's a great bargin, but don't expect everything you'd get w/ MSC or TurboC. If you're expecting to develop programs for resale, get the MSC. If you just want a good, inexpensive C for your own use/enjoyment, go for it. Past versions have had some problems w/ bugs and the support isn't all that great, but Mix Software has usually sent me a free update when I've reported bugs (I test it for arcane conformance cases I find testing the name-brand UNIX compiler at work and let Mix know when theirs doesn't work, so they probably consider me a pain.) Note that the debugger is another $19.95 and $5 shipping per order, so I'd recommend getting everything you're going to get at once to save shipping. Mix also offers library source for $10, a Bourne shell ($19.95), UNIX-like file utilities ($19.95), UNIX-like text utilities ($19.95), source for these 3 packages ($5 or $10 each; I can't remember now), and a C database toolchest (you guessed it! $19.95). All is royalty free and not copy protected. --------------------------- 3 --------------------------------------------- I use it for everything, and love it! You will not find a better value for general purpose c-chunking. I am able to compile almost anything that is in reasonable standard unix c format on my pc with it. Other compilers require consistent rehacking of all sorts of minor things. (Are you listening Microsoft and Borland?) I am not a professional c hacker or guru, but just a hobbiest type that uses a little c almost daily in my laboratory (mostly minor filters and such that I have written or imported from the net). --------------------------- 4 ---------------------------------------------- I bought a copy of it about a year ago. Here's a rough summary of my experiences. Please note that I haven't checked out their latest releases (if there are any). Compiler was not really ANSI compatible. It was more a case of a K&R compiler, extended to understand prototypes and enums. The version I had did *not* check function calls agains prototypes as ANSI required. Some of the silent changes made by ANSI were not in the compiler. I'd be rather cautious about their claims to ANSI compatibility - unless it was substantiated by naming a particular test suite. Among other things it failed to compile Duff's device in most of its forms. The optimizer was buggy - several perfectly legal structs caused the optimizer to abort. Since the optimizer couldn't be switched off, this was a serious problem. I found an inordinate number of problems with the so-called ANSI library. I sent a complete list to MIX, but I haven't saved it. I remember that printf() did the wrong thing for several of the less commonly used formats (I don't think it had all formats required by ANSI), that random() didn't at behave as expected. The compiler/linker does not use the usual .OBJ file format - it has its own proprietary format. So you'll need a special linker. I seem to recall there was a tool to convert .OBJ files to .MIX files, but I never got it work properly. The debugger is wonderful. Really. In my opinion it almost makes up for the problems caused by the compiler. If you are planning to buy the compiler, I recommend you buy the debuger at the same time. All taken together, I got the impression that the compiler was worth no more than I paid for it. The debugger was worth much more. I could use the compiler to port programs that had been developed and debugged on other machines, but I had problems with developing new programs, due to the erratical typechecking. I didn't think it would be possible to use the compiler to develop any large projects, so I switched to a better (though more expensive compiler). Please not that I had these problems with the MIX Power C tools released about a year ago. I sent samples of all bugs I had found to MIX, but I didn't get any reply. They should have been fixed by now. At least I hope so. ----------------------------- 5 -------------------------------------------- Search through past usenet articles and you'll find comments about this. Briefly, I've been using it for serious work for several years. A great bargain - decent compiler, full and good-quality libraries, nice full-screen debugger. May not generate the fastest code around, but not many bugs. Also a real nice book if you're not already a C wiz. ------------------------------ 6 ------------------------------------------- The company is Mix Software. I just ordered a C/Database toolchest from them. They told me about their compiler. It sounds nice, but I already have Turbo-C, and, hence, do not need another compiler. If you send me a message (e-mail) in about a week I can give you an evaluation of their toolchest. It won't exactly tell you what you want to know about their compiler, but I am under the impression that most companies put out the same quality in all their products. If the toolchest is good, chances are that the compiler will be also. If it sucks, then the compiler probably does as well. I do know that I talked to one of their technical people, and she seemed to be very knowledgable (can't say the same about the sales people though). Also, they give a 60 day money back guarantee on all their products. For 19.95, (if I didn't already have a C compiler) I'd certainly give it a try. ------------------------------ 7 -------------------------------------------- I have the original Power C compiler that I purchased almost two years ago. I really believe that is the best buy in a compiler. Period. I personally use Turbo C++ simply because the TC++ environment is unbeatable for development. However, the Power C REFERENCE MANUAL is worth the price alone! Also, having the source code for only 10 dollars is nice. And that source code has an assembler with it! Here is the summary as far as I can tell: Pros: Power C is Turbo C compatible syntactically. Power C is inexpensive. The documentation is worth the price alone (just the C tutorial alone!) Power C-trace, the debugger, is VERY powerful. Source for the library is available and is usually pretty nice. MIX Software has pretty nice and knowledgable people. Granular floating point library. Cons: No integrated environment. PCA (Power C ASM) doesn't use MASM syntax. Can't use Borland or Microsoft .OBJ files. Supported only Medium memory model (this was the first version only). I personally reommend it for someone who wants to dabble with the language. For actual code generation though, I stick with Borland. But some people just can't afford to pay the dollars for a good debugger and environment. They are the ones who can't go wrong with Power C. I like it a lot, but I've outgrown it. ------------------------------ 8 ------------------------------------------- i'm using power c and i,m very happy with. it has a lot of functions (windows, graphics etc) and a good documentation. i bought it for 79.- DM ------------------------------- 9 ----------------------------------------- This is, despite the price, a very decent compiler. I prefer it to the gargantuan MS-C system, which is more extensive, allows for cross-language development, and is so-user friendly that it eats up a whole hard disk with help files alone. Power C comes with source for the lib for an additional $ 10, and for another $ 19.95 you get Power Ctrace, an excellent source level debugger. Although perhaps Turbo and MS are to be preferred for very large applications, for multiple memory models, for sophisticated memory management, etc., I find that I can do most things I want to do in Power C (and I can switch to Ms C later anyway). By the way: the documentation is not bad either. ------------------------------- 10 ------------------------------------------ > And here's the kicker: Prewritten summary available from math.princeton.edu:pub/rjc/csip/compilers.Z --------------------- end of responses -------------------------------------- Well, that's all folks. Hope this was of any use to someone, I know it is to me. Thanks again to all who responded. By the way, the number for Mix (if anyone wants to buy PowerC) is: 1-800-333-0330. I am not affiliated with Mix in any way! I was amused that a few people commented on my .signature. It's just that I'm trying to get away from pirating software by buying (eek) my own copies. On a college student's budget, however, this can be quite frustrating. Now, if they only made a _Power Pascal_, _Power Word for Windows_, _Power dBASE_, etc. ;-)!!!!!! Dan Simoes dans@crpmks.UUCP (914) 785-2250 Manhattanville College '92 CIBA-Geigy Corp. Disclaimer: que sera, sera Quote: "Software is overpriced - lower the prices and there will be no piracy" (Me!)