Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!tank!ncar!mailrus!caen.engin.umich.edu!yhe
From: yhe@caen.engin.umich.edu (youda he)
Newsgroups: comp.lang.c++
Subject: Zorteck C++ blue...
Message-ID: <410c930c.129dc@blue.engin.umich.edu>
Date: 24 Jan 89 05:11:00 GMT
Reply-To: yhe@caen.engin.umich.edu (youda he)
Distribution: comp.lang.c++
Organization: caen
Lines: 62

Hello world, I am one of those bought a Zortech C++ compiler, After
struggle with Zortech C++, I found it has following problems :

(1) It will not properly return for derived class:
    example:
    class Matrix {
        ...
    };
    class System : Matrix {
        Matrix sys;
        int state;
    public:
        ...
        System operator*(System& b);    // not work.
        friend System serial(System& a, System& b); // not working
        friend void serial(System& a, System& b, System &ab); // works
    };
    In this case the return value is unpredictable, in most cases it will
    hang system. If the return value is not derived class, it works. Also
    if return by arg, it also woks. this made it almost impossible to
    define operators in derived class.

(2) Blink can't find stuff in library.

(3) Overload cast name based on the sequence functions appear in the .cpp
    file not in the sequence of definition in header file. that will cause
    same name casting in different file, unless you pull all the functions
    has same name in one file, ...

(4) optimizer give wrong result, the only way to check is to see if it works
    OK then suddenly hang system or just wrong answer. a lot of time the
    compiler quit, tell you ZTC BUG *****, (during ZTC2B), some times it
    get to the end but MAY BE wrong. I just keep in the plain mood now.
    Also (Inverting (50x50) matrix compiled by msc 5.1 take 8.7 sec, ZTC 12.8
    sec, both use maximum optimization large model, use 10Mhz 1 wait AT with
    80287), therefore the optimization not doing much any way.

(5) Wrong floating point case when using -f option:
    example:
    main()
    {   double a=HUGE_VAL;
        printf("%d %d %d %d \n", a>0.,0.<a,a<0.,0.>a);
    }
    will show one of them is not correct. (forget which one).

(6) zlib: lib(ms) and zlib can't mix up, one put a .obj file in .lib
    can't be removed by the other, but no complain issued. { lib(ms) seems
    work better, since blink usually can find stuff put in by lib(ms). }

(7) tech support: I called twice, they promise to call back, I never get the
    call. I mail back the post card come with compiler, no answer either.

Suggestion: Make it work before put any fancy stuff in it, I never use the 
editor come with the compiler. Code view hardly work, (you can see the line
on code view, but some times can't find value), any thing associate with
IO will not work under codeview. The bunch doesn't work at all.

Does Zortech has any update yet? I have 1.07
Any suggestions?

    Youda yhe@caen.umich.edu