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From: garrett@udel.EDU (Joel Garrett)
Newsgroups: comp.lang.fortran
Subject: Re: Why Does MS Fortran Compiler Need So Many %*&^%!! Floppies?
Message-ID: <404@louie.udel.EDU>
Date: Fri, 31-Jul-87 11:25:33 EDT
Article-I.D.: louie.404
Posted: Fri Jul 31 11:25:33 1987
Date-Received: Sat, 1-Aug-87 22:23:44 EDT
References: <1471@briar.Philips.Com> <403@louie.udel.EDU> <379@nikhefh.UUCP>
Organization: University of Delaware
Lines: 16
Summary: Good Point

In article <379@nikhefh.UUCP>, t19@nikhefh.UUCP (Geert J v Oldenborgh) writes:
> I only own an Atari ST, but the Absoft FORTRAN compiler on it is 128K and
> compiles at about 2000 lines/minute (from RAMdisk).  It is a full 
> implementation, includes a symbolic debugger and produces reasonable code.
> In fact, I type this over a modem as I work much faster at home than on our
> mainframe...

You're right, Absoft fortran is much smaller, faster, and just as complete.
But then again, it doesn't have to deal with the convolutions of the 80x86
including segmentation, funky msdos calls, etc.  All that and the support
for inter-language calling and just the Microsoft compiler mindset add up
to a big, bulky compiler - I hope the competition in fortrans puts more
pressure on MS.  Their compiler is the best for the PC but I agree that it
is too big and slow.

Joel