Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!mips!pacbell.com!ucsd!ucrmath!rhyde From: rhyde@ucrmath.ucr.edu (randy hyde) Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple2 Subject: Re: Any Pascal programmers for Apple II GS? Message-ID: <14386@ucrmath.ucr.edu> Date: 13 May 91 15:48:32 GMT References: <14308@ucrmath.ucr.edu> <16114@smoke.brl.mil> Organization: University of California, Riverside Lines: 11 Pascal has been commercial successful in the U.S., as well. But its popularity waned over the past decade (Turbo Pascal, not withstanding). As for pointers in C vs. pointers in Pascal, all Pascal pointers are anonymous (as you pointed out, there is not address-of operator in Pascal; except pass by reference parameters). This eliminates problems with aliasing which is very difficult for an optimizing compiler to handle. Yes, compiler writers can give blanket judgements about this one, especially since C programmers tend to use pointers for just about everything (e.g., they'll typically use a pointer rather than a simpler, and easier to optimize, array access). The fact that commercially available C compilers tend to generate better code is a testament to the work that C compiler writers have put into their products.