Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!caip!im4u!ut-sally!husc6!yale!decvax!decwrl!pyramid!hplabs!tektronix!uw-beaver!tikal!bobc
From: bobc@tikal.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.micro.mac
Subject: Re: true code-generating M2 for the Mac ?
Message-ID: <471@tikal.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 21-Jul-86 15:31:11 EDT
Article-I.D.: tikal.471
Posted: Mon Jul 21 15:31:11 1986
Date-Received: Wed, 23-Jul-86 07:09:34 EDT
References: <145@tnocsda.UUCP> <1392@runx.OZ>
Reply-To: bobc@tikal.UUCP (Bob Campbell)
Organization: Teltone Corp., Kirkland, WA
Lines: 60

In article <1392@runx.OZ> baron@runx.OZ (Jason Haines) writes:
>
>> Is there a true 68000 code-generating (as opposed to p-code) 
>> Modula-2 compiler for the Mac ?
>
>As far as Modula-2 products go, there are no native code generating Modula-2
>compilers available. They all produce M-code.

There are two 68000 code-generating Modula-2 compilers for the Mac.
The first is based on the 5 pass pdp11 compiler (modified to generate
68000 code), the second is the one pass MacMETH system which is sold
by Modula Corp (for ETHZ, which also distributes it).  The 5 pass
compiler is free, and the one pass compiler is 99$ US or 200 sFr
(?Swiss Francs).

MacMETH is a fair system, it does have some implementation problems
that I don't like:

    1)	It does not come with a full mac interface you have to write
	your own.  (This is a pain I know I did it for the 5 pass
	compiler).

    2)	The implementation of the "loader" traps off all the interupts
	to the MacMETH debugger, this makes it impossible to use
	MacsBug, or other debuggers.  This bothers me because when
	attempting the Port the interface to this compiler their where
	mistakes in the interfaces which could have been detected
	correctly with MacsBug that cause the MacMETH debugger to get
	totally lost.
    
    3)	There is not support for Co-routines (however programs can
	load and execute other programs {really modules}).  The only
	support for co-rouitnes in the 5 pass compiler for the Mac is
	what I have done (which has not be distrubuted very far
	because I am very busy right now, and it needs a better test).

    4)	I have reports that using the MacMETH `shell' runs out of
	memory when used in a edit, compile, and run set up.  (ie fix
	a bug, compile module, run module, fix a bug, ... which is all
	done with out returning to the finder).

    5)  The editor is a Lilith editor it does not use dialogs,
	SFGetFile, the scrap, and other neat Mac things.

    6)	The InOut module does not use SFGetFile and SFPutFile (I like
	not having to type the file name correctly as it allows me to
	use fancier file names with out having to worry about miss
	spelling the name)

Having stated some of the bad parts, I will now also say that it is
very cheep, and very fast, and until something new comes out it is the
best that there is.


Bob Campbell
Teltone Corporation		18520 - 66th AVE NE
P.O. Box 657			Seattle, WA 98155
Kirkland, WA 98033

{amc,dataio,fluke,hplsla,sunup,uw-beaver}!tikal!bobc