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From: jlydiatt@jlami.van-bc.UUCP (Jeff Lydiatt)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: Free C Compiler?  Almost!
Message-ID: <1695@van-bc.UUCP>
Date: 19 Mar 88 21:07:07 GMT
Sender: root@van-bc.UUCP
Lines: 52


> In article <1692@van-bc.UUCP> jlydiatt@jlami.van-bc.UUCP (Jeff Lydiatt)
> >	o Seems to have run into a bug with Blink for the larger programs -
> >	  if we can't solve that by altering the compiler generated code,
> >	  we may be faced with writing a linker.  Wonder what the chances
> >	  of the Software Distillery Boys releasing the source to the
> >	  PD version of Blink?
> 
> Several points (as a Software Distiller):
> 
> 1. Why haven't you tried to let us know what the bug in BLink is?
>    No offense, but I suspect the bug may not be in BLink, since BLink has
>    had a lot more use and testing than your compiler.
> 
> 2. The chances of releasing the source are nil, since we no longer 
>    control it.  However, we may be allowed to release one more PD
>    version solely to fix bugs.
> 

  With regards to point 1, Doug.  I guess the answer is that my efforts
to date have been directed at whipping the compiler and library routines
into shape, and the problem I was having with BLink wasn't holding up
progress since Alink worked fine.  We also know there are problems with
the PD assembler we are using, and hoped that when we had those ironed
out that the BLink problem would go away.

  While the problem is no doubt due to some bad or totally-strange input
to BLink,  I do think there is a bug in BLink somewhere.  With BLink 6.7
which I believe is the last PD version you released, the symptoms of the
bug are either:

	a) The linker generates an invalid load module, without any
	accompanying error message.  When you try to run the linked
	program, the AmigaDos loader thinks it's not a valid program
	and won't run it.

			- or -

	b) BLink gurus.

  With regards to point 2 - no suprise, I really didn't expect a different
answer but it never hurts to ask :-).   However, if you could release one
final version that fixes a few bugs, that would be more than I hoped for.
If the offer stands, could you let me know by Email, and I will do a
some analysis on the problem to narrow it down.  I wasn't looking forward
to writing a linker, and BLink is widely regarded by everyone (including
me) as one of the best PD programs around for the Amiga.


--
  //   Jeff Lydiatt UUCP: uunet!van-bc!jlami!jlydiatt
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