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Path: utzoo!decvax!wanginst!apollo!nazgul
From: nazgul@apollo.uucp (Kee Hinckley)
Newsgroups: net.micro.apple
Subject: Re: Aztec C, Information Request
Message-ID: <2cb60b4f.7005@apollo.uucp>
Date: Tue, 25-Mar-86 17:40:12 EST
Article-I.D.: apollo.2cb60b4f.7005
Posted: Tue Mar 25 17:40:12 1986
Date-Received: Wed, 26-Mar-86 19:49:18 EST
References: <853@alberta.UUCP> <2006@brl-smoke.ARPA>
Reply-To: nazgul@apollo.UUCP (Kee Hinckley)
Distribution: na
Organization: Apollo Computer Inc., Chelmsford MA
Lines: 58
Summary: 

In article <2006@brl-smoke.ARPA> gwyn@brl.ARPA writes:
> In article <853@alberta.UUCP> gordon@alberta.UUCP (Gordon Atwood) writes:
> >I would like to obtain as much data as possible on Aztec C, produced by Manx
> >Corporation.  Details of other C compilers would also be appreciated.
> 	For real speed I directly access peripheral registers
> 	rather than sending I/O through the standard I/O hooks.

And if you really want to cruise, you can always talk to the screen 
directly!

> 	The ProDOS version is supposed to eventually have support
> 	for cross-development of DOS 3.3 target applications.

They have that out in beta now, but I haven't tried it yet.

> >   4) Compatibility with "Standard C" [whatever that may be], (I prefer as close
> >     to Kernighan as possible).
> 	Aztec C is very close to K&R, and the ProDOS version
> 	includes later features a la X3J11.  Floating-point
> 	support IS provided.  Bit-fields were missing last I
> 	looked.  The library is closer to 7th Ed. UNIX than
> 	to X3J11 or the SVID; this can be fixed easily enough.

Bit fields are in the new prodos version (least-wise the latest
update warned that arithmetic with bit fields didn't work yet, which
I assume means that bit-fields are there!)

> >   6) Any other information that will help in my making a decision concerning
> >     the purchase of this Package.
> 	The ProDOS version is taking much longer to get to the
> 	release point than Manx at first indicated.  I get the
> 	feeling that Jim Goodnow is their main developer and
> 	he has been busy getting Mac & Amiga releases ready.
> 	I've found the compiler itself to be pretty reliable,
> 	but the ProDOS shell is not ready for serious use yet.

I agree with that.  I doubt that the Apple ][ market is a major money
maker for them, so it doesn't get priority.  On the other hand the only
other choice is the ORCA implementation of SmallC, which by their own
admission is not a production system (but you do get the entire source
code!).

                                            -nazgul



--

                         ...decvax!wanginst!apollo!nazgul

    Little Bo-Peep
    Has lost her sheep,
The radar has failed to find them.
    They'll all, face to face,
    Meet in parallel space,
Preceeding their leaders behind them.

                    A Space Child's Mother Goose