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From: scott@hpcvck.UUCP
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: Comments wanted on C compilers under $100
Message-ID: <4490001@hpcvck.HP>
Date: Mon, 23-Mar-87 14:01:46 EST
Article-I.D.: hpcvck.4490001
Posted: Mon Mar 23 14:01:46 1987
Date-Received: Thu, 26-Mar-87 05:25:37 EST
References: <517@cpocd2.UUCP>
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Co., Corvallis, Oregon
Lines: 31


I recently purchased the Datalight C compiler.  I purchased the more
expensive version (Optimum-C, with the Global Optimizer).

I am very pleased with this compiler.  It is very easy to use, very
fast, and generates fast code (especially with the optimizer!)  I got
724 drhystones with the optimized version on a HP110 portable computer.

The documentation is lacking a bit, but in general is usable.  The
compiler generates all models, and can be used on *any* MSDOS machine
(not just "true" compatibles).  This point was very important to me.
I have a HP150 and HP110, and they are not fully IBM compatible.

I also purchased MIXC, to see what it was like.  The manual is very good
(~450 pages with tutorial!), and the compiler supports full K&R with
some extensions.  Some UNIX compatible functions are included.  It
also has a speedup program for increasing the execution speed.

MIXC is good for someone just getting into C, who doesn't care about
the execution speed.  It is fairly *slow*.  Compared to Datalight C,
it was about 50% slower when running the sieve program, but it only
came in at 57 drhystones on the HP110, which puts the 110/MIXC combo
on the order of an Apple IIe when running the drhystone benchmark.

If you already know C, and want to get a good, fast cheap compiler, I
would go with Datalight.  I should also mention that it trys to be
compatible with Lattice C, and all differences are mentioned in the
documentation.

Scott Linn
hplabs!hp-pcd!hpcvck!scott