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From: wojtowic@cs.unca.edu (David Wojtowicz)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.programmer
Subject: Re: Power-C and other cheap C compilers
Message-ID: <1991Apr13.171421.5637@rock.concert.net>
Date: 13 Apr 91 17:14:21 GMT
Sender: news@rock.concert.net
Distribution: na
Organization: University of North Carolina at Asheville
Lines: 60


In article <777@gcc.uucp> Lee Minich writes:
>
>     I am in the market for a reasonably priced C package.
>I am considering buying POWER C by Mix Software.  Does anyone
>have any comments about POWER C or any suggestions for other
>cheap C compilers??  I'm just learning C, so I need a pretty
>good manual to lead me through the language.
>
>     Any information about affordable C compilers (affordable
>meaning less than $100) or references to help me in my trek
>through C will be most graciously appreciated.
>
>Sincerely your friend I.
>
>+-------------------------------------------------------------------+
>|   Lee Minich            Internet: stu870344%gcc@edinboro.edu      |
>|   Grove City College    Uucp: ...pitt!edinboro!gcc!stu870344      |
>+-------------------------------------------------------------------+

Power C isn't the best C compiler around but it is VERY GOOD for what
you pay for it.  Perfect for learning C.  I learned C using Power C.
I think the manual is great.  It gives a workable piece of example
code with each and every C library function in the reference section.
(Something Turbo hasn't done until just recently with the release of
C++)

Some limitations...Doesn't have a fancy integrated environment like
Turbo or Microsoft.  You have to edit the source code in your favorite
editor and then compile from the command line.  Doesn't have a fancy
graphics library like Turbo does although it does have basic graphics
functions. [Note: check the ads...they may have added such features since
I purchased mine about 2 years ago.]

Some advantages...The EXE's it produces from your code are both fast
and efficient.  It includes a large set of library functions.
You don't have to learn how to use the fancy environment.
Power Ctrace (Mix's companion debugger) is excellent.  This by the way
is a must.  Ctrace is a cheap addition and well worth the money.
Unlike the compiler it is a fancy interactive program the lets you
watch it execute your code while you can inspect or change the contents
of variables while its running.  It has saved me many hours of frustration
because I could spot what was going wrong in the program.  The other
compilers have a similar thing but having tried them, they aren't much
better than Ctrace for the extra money you pay.

Anyway...Power-C is a great deal.  I use Turbo myself now at work
since I need the fancy environment at graphics.  I've recommended
Power-C to two other people who were learning C and they seem to like
it.  What have you got to lose with the low price.  Unless the price
has gone up much since I purchased it, the manual is worth the price
alone.  If you grow out of it you can always purchase one of the
others when you know what you're looking for.

Hope this info is of some help.

David Wojtowicz
Atmospheric Science Dept.
UNC-Asheville
wojtowic@cs.unca.edu