Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!usc!apple!netcom!amdcad!dgcad!dg-rtp!webo!spud!bkahn From: bkahn@spud.webo.dg.com (Bruce Kahn) Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple2 Subject: Re: IIgs Unzip thing Message-ID: <1991Mar29.171045.21071@webo.dg.com> Date: 29 Mar 91 17:10:45 GMT References: <9103280259.AA19624@apple.com> Sender: bkahn@spud (Bruce Kahn) Reply-To: bkahn@archive.webo.dg.com (Bruce Kahn) Organization: Data General Corporation, Westboro, MA Lines: 35 In article <9103280259.AA19624@apple.com>, MQUINN@UTCVM.BITNET writes: |> On Wed, 27 Mar 91 22:27:32 GMT Doug Gwyn said: |> >In article <1991Mar25.222305.6194@nntp-server.caltech.edu> |> > toddpw@nntp-server.caltech.edu (Todd P. Whitesel) writes: |> >>Using compiled languages for time-critical code never makes sense unless the |> >>compiler is unspeakably awesome and efficient. |> > |> >What a crock. Practically ALL the time-critical code here is written in C |> >or Fortran, and the compilers aren't all that great. |> |> Just out of curiosity... where is "here"? |> [Comments from others also deleted...] 'Here' in my case is Data General. We do almost all our coding in C (from the systems & apps level down to the streams and kernel level). The only time we have NOT done this (that I now of) is w/our PC transports (NetBIOS, done w/assembly, etc). The main reason we use C over assembly is two fold: 1) While assembly is faster (excluding an 'unspeakably awesome and efficient' compiler), it is not as easy to maintain and follow as compared to the more higher level languages like C or Pascal (not that I know of anyone here using Pascal). Most people can read C code from different platforms but they dont always have experience w/the assorted lower level languages found on different systems (Mac, 88K, 6502/65816, Z80, ECLIPSE, etc). 2) Assembly is no where as 'portable' as the higher level languages so if we want to use the code over again elsewhere, unless its on the same h/w platform, that just wont happen. Kinda like writting a library full of books but not using a language that others can easily read and follow... -- Bruce Kahn Phone (508) 870-6488 NSDD / OpenLAN Internet bkahn@archive.webo.dg.com Data General Corporation, Westboro MA USA Standard disclaimers still apply, even where prohibited by law...