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From: knudsen@cbnewsd.att.com (michael.j.knudsen)
Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.programmer,comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc
Subject: Help choosing C Compiler for specific use
Keywords: C
Message-ID: <1991May22.225803.23546@cbnewsd.att.com>
Date: 22 May 91 22:58:03 GMT
Followup-To: comp.sys.ibm.pc.programmer
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories
Lines: 39

I'd like some advice on choosing between the many C compilers
available for MSDOS systems.  Before we get into good old religious
flame wars, let me say something about what I want it for:

I'm porting a large C program, which I've already written and debugged,
from a 68000 and a 6809 system (running OS-9).
There are about two dozen source.c files and a dozen header.h files,
plus a makefile.  The 68000 executable is over 100K.
This program is totally graphics oriented, with its own windows,
and uses both the mouse and the keyboard, plus some extra hardware,
so I need good libraries for that sort of stuff.

I can't use any "toy" C systems (Quick C?) or need any tutorials.
Do I need Microsoft C, or can Borland's Turbo C handle this?
What other brands should I consider?

I don't expect to write a lot of code from scratch, but will have
to do some heavy editing in the system-dependent areas.

Also I've learned the hard way that "ports" dont' just come up and run
the first time, so I don't mind paying for fancy debugging tools
a la Turbo, *if* they can be run alongside my own grafix.
Also I can never remember what .c file some function is in, so good
browsing tools would be nice.  I have a good Emacs editor so I
don't care about the built-in editor, tho I hear that Turbo forces
you to use their Wordstar-like editor (I could live with that).

With Turbo C++ under $100 (?), it's tempting, but should I pay
extra for Microsoft C?  If I go Turbo, should I shell out extra for
their "Professional" version?

It must run on a Compaq II '286 with 640K and a 20 Meg HD
(or should I look for another computer, sheesh!?!)

All followups or email replies appreciated.  Thanks, mike k
-- 
"What America needs is A Thousand Points When Lit..."

	knudsen@iceland.att.com