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From: joel@gould9.UUCP (Joel West)
Newsgroups: net.micro.mac
Subject: Re: Using the Macintosh Toolbox with C (toolbox glue)
Message-ID: <198@gould9.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 4-Dec-85 17:45:46 EST
Article-I.D.: gould9.198
Posted: Wed Dec  4 17:45:46 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 6-Dec-85 07:49:41 EST
References: <1067@lll-crg.ARpA> <687@k.cs.cmu.edu>
Organization: CACI, Inc. -- La Jolla, Calif.
Lines: 35
Summary: either approach can work well

In article <687@k.cs.cmu.edu>, tim@k.cs.cmu.edu (Tim Maroney) writes:
> Two approaches to Macintosh toolbox interfaces...
> >   Approach 1: Smart Compiler - Consulair (and Aztec) 
> >   Approach 2: Glue - MegaMax and the SUmacc 
> 
> For some reason, Dave avoided getting into comparisons of these approaches,
> and in fact seemed to imply they were equally good.  To me, the issue seems
> very clear cut: the smart compiler approach is far better.  
(Maroney goes on to justify his case)

While I understand this point of view, there are many who claim 
that "Optimum Run-time Speed and Size" are the only valid measure
of a compiler's performance.  This is a very simplistic view
of things.

The overall life-cycle cost issues are more complex.  For example, it
may be that a system with "glue" routines will support a new feature
(e.g. Appletalk) 6 months before one where the compiler has to be
modified.  It may also mean that the interfaces are less buggy because
they're easier to implement.  (I'm not saying this is necessarily true...)

I would also note that the Megamax has been near the top or at the
top on every speed benchmark I've seen.  And they were the first
with the smart linker, so their programs were faster.

I'm not saying speed and size aren't important.  But flexibility
and reliability have to be factored into the equation, as well
as the list of features (post-K&R, in-line assembler, development
tools, etc. etc.).  For my part, I'll take the extra compile time
and use it to hand-code 5 key routines in assembler.
-- 
	Joel West	 	(619) 457-9681
	CACI, Inc. Federal, 3344 N. Torrey Pines Ct., La Jolla, CA  92037
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