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From: ee173way@sdcc3.UUCP
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: Modula-2 compiler query
Message-ID: <3773@sdcc3.ucsd.EDU>
Date: Tue, 3-Mar-87 14:03:08 EST
Article-I.D.: sdcc3.3773
Posted: Tue Mar  3 14:03:08 1987
Date-Received: Fri, 6-Mar-87 00:37:42 EST
References: <1157@spice.cs.cmu.edu>
Reply-To: ee173way@sdcc3.ucsd.edu.UUCP (John Schultz)
Organization: University of California, San Diego
Lines: 36


  I use TDI m2 exclusively.  They have been pretty good in the past
about upgrades, performance, etc.  *Someday* (soon) the latest
version will be shipped.  Every time I call them, they tell me that
it is either shipping that day or the following friday.  Still
haven't received it...
  Other than that one small gripe, I am very impressed with the
compiler.  It is fast, produces tight, compact code, and the
executable in most cases is faster than Aztec's C (or so TDI's
benchmarks show).  C is still faster in tight loops using register
vars, but otherwise m2 is faster.  TDI has been writing 68000
modula-2 compilers for some time, including ST versions, and so they
have a very optimized compiler (to -> native executable machine
code, not p-code, etc). 
  I have heard nothing about the Pecan version, so I cannot make a
comparasion. 
  The latest TDI version will have an integrated compiler - editor,
so when errors occur, you'll be placed in the editor where the error
occurred (similar to turbo pascal).  It'll be 33% faster (the
original version was acceptably fast) and produce even better code.
  I have written my first video game using m2, and will be out on
the market sometime after receiving the latest compiler (so I can
finish up). 
  If you want to get Modula-2 so you won't have to learn or deal
with C, well, you're still gonna have to learn C to translate all of
the examples from the RKM (which you'll need as well, for any
serious work).
  Last I read, the TDI m2 compiler retailed for $149.99 for the
developers version, and $299.99 for the comercial version.  Of
course you can be it discounted locally or through the mail (Go
Amiga is where I ordered mine).  There is also an $89 regular
version, but I feel you should at least get the developers version
(extra tools, info you will need).

  John
  7OHN