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From: jg@crl.dec.com (Jim Gettys)
Newsgroups: comp.unix.ultrix
Subject: Re: New RISC compilers????
Message-ID: <1991Mar16.235222.10491@crl.dec.com>
Date: 16 Mar 91 23:52:22 GMT
References: <15530012@hpdmd48.boi.hp.com> <3276@canisius.UUCP>
Sender: news@crl.dec.com (USENET News System)
Reply-To: jg@crl.dec.com (Jim Gettys)
Organization: DEC Cambridge Research Lab
Lines: 42

In article <3276@canisius.UUCP>, pavlov@canisius.UUCP (Greg Pavlov) writes:
> In article <15530012@hpdmd48.boi.hp.com>, sritacco@hpdmd48.boi.hp.com (Steve Ritacco) writes:
> > Hi,
> > 
> > I have read that the DECstation 5000 SPEC mark went up to 19.something with
> > "new" compilers.  Could someone tell me if the new compilers are DEC or
> > Mips?
> > 
> > Thanks.
> 
>   They're homebrews.  We purchased the VAX processor-based FORTRAN compiler
>   when that came out, to get the extra "speed", courtesy of the VMS folks,
>   I believe.
> 
>   While it may be unfair to say this (another processor, after all), the
>   resulting experiences led me to adopt a "the extra SPECS ain't
>   worth it" motto.  Lots of bugs, very slow fixes, and some rather arcane
>   suggested workarounds (compile the errant routines in f77 and connect
>   via the infamous "jacket" routines, for instance...).

Yes, it is very unfair to say this, given you have no direct experience with the new
compilers.  The new RISC compilers are fully integrated into Ultrix, without the warts
which afflict VAX Fortran/Ultrix (caused by the differing calling conventions between
Unix and VMS, since that compiler was originally written for VMS).  No "jacket routines"
or any of that stuff...  How about asking questions, rather than throwing tomatos, until
you find out we actually deserve them?  As far as I can tell, the folks doing the DEC
fortran compiler have worked VERY hard to do a good job; I don't have any first hand
experience with the C compiler, so I'll let others comment on it.  I got the new Fortran
compiler to a number of my friends who are heavy fortran users; they certainly seem happy
with it, having been able to port large piles of code they'd previously
had problems with.

I hope you believe that we can learn from our mistakes....

> 
>   Overall, I would prefer that DEC simply kept up to date with MIPS.
> 
I've had relatively few complaints with the MIPS C compiler
personally from extensive use, though it isn't a full ansi compiler.
I don't think too many folks have been very happy with the MIPS fortran compiler, however,
from what I've seen.
				- Jim Gettys