Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!csd4.milw.wisc.edu!lll-winken!uunet!dg!rec
From: rec@dg.dg.com (Robert Cousins)
Newsgroups: comp.arch
Subject: Re: Criteria for comparing RISC processors
Summary: Open competition is the best basis
Message-ID: <154@dg.dg.com>
Date: 3 May 89 12:41:46 GMT
References: <2368@ogccse.ogc.edu> <1464@cfa.cfa.harvard.EDU> <141@dg.dg.com> <18120@winchester.mips.COM> <144@dg.dg.com> <18316@winchester.mips.COM> <147@dg.dg.com> <18645@mips.mips.COM>
Reply-To: rec@dg.UUCP (Robert Cousins)
Organization: Data General, Westboro, MA.
Lines: 67

In article <18645@mips.mips.COM> len@synthesis.synthesis.com (Len Lattanzi) writes:
>In article <147@dg.dg.com> rec@dg.UUCP (Robert Cousins) writes:
>:Last time I heard, there were few if any third party compilers for MIPS 
>:which gives you the ability to totally control the interoperability of
>:languages.  
>I hope all your third party compilers support the same command line functions
>and functionality. . . . 

While I have no control over the command line options, it is interesting to
notice how the most commonly used toggles such as "s," "o," "O," and "c" are
almost universal.  However, I view it as more important to be able to move
the COMPILER I prefer between machines than to hope that the compiler on the
other machine is similar to my favorite.  This is what the ABI/BCS effort
is all about.

>The Micro Focus Cobol Compiler
>uses the MIPS calling sequence defined in Kane's MIPS R2000 book and C/Cobol
>call each other with ease.

My point exactly.  I assume that Micro Focus will be following the BCS while
porting to the 88K.

>:The 88/Open OCS is a seperate document with specific hooks for Ada, PL/I, etc.
>:It deals with not only the extended/nested symbol table issues but also
>:attempts to deal with the other known problems as mentioned by all of the
>:88/Open members.  The collective experience and knowledge of the 88/Open 
>:group is substantial.
>:
>:Actually, this difficulty arises only if you have just one company doing 
>:the compilers.
>
>You say tomato, I say...
>We'll have to see if Survival of the fittest 3rd party compiler will produce
>better results than a compiler group that is part of the design process at 
>Mips. 

In just the C compiler area, there are numerous heavy weight companies working
for the 88K:  LPI, Oasys/Greenhills, Diab, Translations Systems and others.
Based upon these companies' technology, I think that some excellent compilers
will be developed soon.  The current crop seems to be doing well if you read
last month's MIPS magazine.  

I understand that MIPS has purchased some compiler technology from at 
least one member of the above list.

> Whose 3rd party OS is available for the AViion?

I can't comment on this until the other vendors make their announcments.
DG is pleased and proud of DG/UX and the reception that DG/UX is getting
throughout the 88K world now that it is available for licensure by other
members of the consortium.

>Care to quote FORTRAN performance numbers?

Any numbers you desire are available in the MIPS performance
brief.  When making comparisons, don't forget that AViiON goes for $7995 and
runs at 16.67 Mhz.  (It is really easy to compare this machine with others
costing 5 times as much.)

>
> Len Lattanzi (len@Synthesis.com) <{ames,pyramid,decwrl}!mips!synthesis!len>
> Synthesis Software Solutions, Inc. 		The RISC Software Company
>I would have put a disclaimer here but I already posted the article.

Robert Cousins

Speaking for myself alone.