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From: jim@tortuga.SanDiego.NCR.COM (Jim (James) Ruehlin)
Newsgroups: comp.lang.c++
Subject: Re: Borland C++
Message-ID: <1991Jun10.215544.4866@donner.SanDiego.NCR.COM>
Date: 10 Jun 91 21:55:44 GMT
Article-I.D.: donner.1991Jun10.215544.4866
References: <6133@mindlink.bc.ca>
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Reply-To: jim@tortuga.SanDiego.NCR.COM (Jim (James) Ruehlin)
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In article <6133@mindlink.bc.ca> Arthur_Klassen@mindlink.bc.ca (Arthur Klassen) writes:
>Is there anyone out there who has begun using Borland C++ more or less
>regularly and/or intensively? I have some questions and would welcome the
>answers either in the messages or by e-mail.
>
>1) What's it like to use? Too easy and not enough power? Too powerful and not
>enough ease of use? Can balance out needs for power and ease of use easily?

I think it balances both well.  I've looked at a couple of C++ compilers
on the PC, and I've used one on Unix.  I think BC++ is a good one.

>2) There's a class library with it, isn't there? What's that like? Is it easy
>to write app's for either Windows or DOS? (once you get past an OOP paradigm)

They have a small container class library that's losely based on the NIH
library.  It's not much, just an array, dictionary, string, date & time
classes with NIH-like base classes.  I use it some, but I've written my
own containers.
I use it for Windows programming and use the CommonVu class library.  It's
mostly a user interface lib, and it makes Windows programming less 
painful.

>3) Does the compiler have any quirks? (e.g. the -Oa "relax alias checking" from
>MS-C) Does it optimize code well and reasonably?

Haven't done much with optimization yet.  The worst "quirk" (I'd call it
a relase bug) is that their standard C++ libs are compiled with far
virtual tables off.  If you use large memory model (like I do) and select
the "Far Virtual Tables" option (like I do) you can't use the standard
libraries!!  No streams, etc.  I had to buy the source for the libraries
and re-compile them with the far virtual tables option on.

- Jim Ruehlin