Xref: utzoo comp.os.cpm:1720 comp.lang.modula2:1038
Path: utzoo!utgpu!water!watmath!clyde!att!osu-cis!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!rutgers!mcnc!ecsvax!demogr
From: demogr@ecsvax.uncecs.edu (Bruce Saunders)
Newsgroups: comp.os.cpm,comp.lang.modula2
Subject: Z-80 based M2 compilers:  FTL vs. Turbo M2
Keywords: bugs fixes
Message-ID: <5701@ecsvax.uncecs.edu>
Date: 5 Sep 88 01:17:10 GMT
Organization: UNC Educational Computing Service
Lines: 27


I plan to buy a Modula-2 compiler for my Z-80 based micro in the near future.
After reading articles in MicroCornucopia, I prefer the FTL compiler to
the Turbo M2 compiler because it is more standard and provides a more
convenient programming environment.   Also, from past bitter experience with
Turbo Pascal I've learned that Borland does not debug their products very 
carefully and provides little if any support for their software.

Unfortunately a note in the Simtel archives suggests that the FTL package may
be even buggier, and I've heard rumors that Workman & Associates does not
provide much support, either.

I'd like to receive or compose a list of known bugs and patches/fixes for both
compilers and their respective libraries.  Is there anywhere I can obtain
at least a partial list for either Modula-2 package?  If not, I would like to
known of any SPECIFIC "serious" problems you have stumbled upon, particularly 
with array manipulation, dynamic variable management, and mathematical routines.

I'd also appreciate any recommendations regarding useful programming tools 
which are either missing from one of the packages or are flawed or awkward
to use.

Thank you for your help.  I will summarize responses and post what I learn.

--------------------

     Bruce Saunders                       demogr@ecsvax.uncecs.edu