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From: jdg@elmgate.UUCP
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: C, Manx, 32 bits, 68K, VAXen, etc.
Message-ID: <562@elmgate.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 26-Jan-87 12:40:02 EST
Article-I.D.: elmgate.562
Posted: Mon Jan 26 12:40:02 1987
Date-Received: Tue, 27-Jan-87 04:06:36 EST
References: <2229@jade.BERKELEY.EDU> <1250@cbmvax.cbmvax.cbm.UUCP>
Reply-To: jdg@aurora.UUCP (Jeff Gortatowsky)
Organization: Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, NY
Lines: 48

In article <2277@jade.BERKELEY.EDU> mwm@eris.BERKELEY.EDU (Mike Meyer) writes:
>What I really want is for there to be some competition in the Amiga C
>compiler market. I can't see buying another compiler when I've already
>got at least the second-best compiler on the market. When there are
>four or five, THEN it's time to buy another compiler.
>
>	<mike
>

Well now... I did a great job editing down the verbage 8^).
Anyhow, maybe you'd like to take up the task of putting Lattice and Manx
behind the 8 ball?  I know of two C compilers that can be had now or
RSN (month or two).  All you have to due is port them.  As you don't
like to write commercial software, you could make it freely
redistributable.  The Motorola one on Fish disk #53 seems available now
and needs LOTS of work (Fred's words paraphrased).  Maybe netter's would
like to help out.

Second there is supposed to be the release of the FSF/GNU compiler for
GNU Real Soon Now, or so I'm told.  Again it'll have to be ported.  So
there's the competition you wanted.  They can't beat you if the port
works correctly and produces GreenHills or better code.  Right?

As you might guess I have Lattice (3.03) and Manx (3.20).  Neither are
really any good.  One too big/slow.  The other I paided $600 for a year
ago for free updates and haven't seen a dimes worth since.  Since what I
have can't play with 1.2 it's useless as TOS on an ST.

Things could be worse.  I own an ST as well (1meg w/42meg HD).  They
have about 7 fair to trash C Compilers to choose from.  Imagine!  Seven
lousy code generators/parsers/libs.   That's MUCH more frustrating than
two fair to ok ones.

The real question is WHY can't someone/anyone sell me a true optimizing
solid C compiler for a 68K based box NOT running U*IX?  Heck I've
shelled out close to $1000 bucks already for C compilers between the two
systems so price ain't the problem.  You make it, have it produce code
as good (or so) as say my SUN or GreenHills and I'll buy it.  As it is
I'm very gun shy.  I've been burned (my own fault) too many times now with
'itty-bitty-folks' idea of a C compiler.

PS. Manx... if you really exist!... for chr*st sake, will I ever see
another release?  No..?  sigh............

-- 
Jeff Gortatowsky       {allegra,seismo}!rochester!kodak!elmgate!jdg
Eastman Kodak Company  
<Kodak won't be responsible for the above comments, only those below>