Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!swrinde!cs.utexas.edu!sun-barr!newstop!exodus!appserv!sun!claris!drc
From: drc@claris.com (Dennis Cohen)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.programmer
Subject: Re: review of Meridian's $149 Ada Compiler of the Mac
Message-ID: <241@claris.com>
Date: 28 Mar 91 16:01:15 GMT
References: <4645@dftsrv.gsfc.nasa.gov>
Organization: Claris Corporation, Santa Clara CA
Lines: 29


As a follow-up to this review, I also purchased the Meridian compiler on
the special and encountered only some of the problems mentioned.  The first
thing I did before trying the examples was read the ReadMe file in the
examples folder and it told me that they were ColorQD examples and would
need a ColorQD-capable machine.  I did NOT install the MPW that came with
the package (I already have MPW 3.2b6, which is a whole lot better) as MPW's
before the 3.2 series will not launch under System 7, and that's what I'm
running.  The compiler works quite well with MPW 3.2b6 and System 7, by the
way.

I like the MPW editor and have never encountered a LSE with which I was
comfortable.  Of course, I have also never (yet) encountered a programming
language for which I would forsake all others.

One of the interesting things about the Meridian product is the complexity
of the scripts you execute to get to the tools (fortunately, they provide
the scripts as well).  One could get a liberal education in MPW scripting
just from studying the provided scripts in the Ada:bin: directory.

The bottom line is that it IS a good, validated Ada compiler at a remarkable
price.  Be aware of the fact that the MPW release will need to upgrade when
System 7 comes out (in mid-May if MacWeek is accurate).


-- 
| Dennis Cohen     drc@claris.com   COHEN2   AFC DCohen    71076,1377
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| Disclaimer:  Any unattributed opinions expressed above are _MINE_!