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From: sansom@trwrb.UUCP (Richard Sansom)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st
Subject: Re: Mark Williams ver 2.0 info
Message-ID: <1861@trwrb.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 5-May-87 11:14:50 EDT
Article-I.D.: trwrb.1861
Posted: Tue May  5 11:14:50 1987
Date-Received: Thu, 7-May-87 06:44:43 EDT
References: <8704302259.AA00661@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU> <4722@utcsri.UUCP>
Reply-To: sansom@trwrb.UUCP (Richard Sansom)
Distribution: world
Organization: TRW EDS, Redondo Beach, CA
Lines: 46

(regarding version 2.0 of the Mark Williams C Compiler for the ST)

In article <4722@utcsri.UUCP> asm@utcsri.UUCP (Anees Munshi) writes:
>1. Has the compiler changed significantly? Does it allow inline
>   assembly language now? Has the optimzer been improved further?

The compile/link time has been reduced by about 25%.  As for inline
assembly - this is still unavailable (at least, it is not mentioned in the
documentation & I haven't tried it).  I'm looking forward to this one.
Code size has also been improved by about 25% (I'm guessing here).

>2. I heard that there was new documentation. Is this doc any different
>   from version 1.4 (single manual describes compiler, Make and
>   MicroEmacs rather well, but no docs on Gem calls).

The manual now includes _complete_ GEM AES & VDI documentation.  There are
also quite a few sample programs included (in the documentation) which
demonstrate GEM programming.  It's interesting that Mark Williams Co.  has
been able to do what Atari could not (produce some _real_ documentation) in
so short a time.

>3. Have the libraries been improved further. What has changed specifically?

The libraries _seem_ to have been optimized a bit further (I can't swear to
this).  The most noticeable difference is in the amount of time it takes to
link the libraries with your code (it has decreased _substantially_).

>4. In short, what improvements have been made?

I don't have the official release document with me, but I will say that
what was already (in my opinion) the finest C compiler for the ST has been
improved by much more than the upgrade fee warrants.  If you have version
1.x then you should definitely buy version 2.0.

>...what is the procedure for upgrading (I heard something about sending in
>page 2 of the manual along with some money).

Send a check for $55, along with the inside front cover of the manual (the
one with heavy paper) to Mark Williams for an upgrade.

-Rich
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  /// Richard E. Sansom                   TRW Electronics & Defense Sector \\\
  \\\ {decvax,ucbvax,ihnp4}!trwrb!sansom  Redondo Beach, CA                ///
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