Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uwm.edu!ogicse!decwrl!claris!jazzman
From: jazzman@claris.com (Sydney R. Polk)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple2
Subject: Re: apple // and multitasking, perfect together! (??????????)
Message-ID: <10921@claris.com>
Date: 9 Mar 90 00:08:07 GMT
References: <1990Mar8.014339.3976@spectre.ccsf.caltech.edu>
Organization: Claris Corporation, Santa Clara CA
Lines: 35

From article <1990Mar8.014339.3976@spectre.ccsf.caltech.edu>, by toddpw@tybalt.caltech.edu (Todd P. Whitesel):
> hassell@boulder.Colorado.EDU (Christopher Hassell) writes:
> 
> I also think that the compiler would not be a real problem either, because the
> algorithm used to do the grunge work of the compiler is more a determinant than
> the CPU speed.
> 
> I often wonder what is really inadequate: the hardware, or the people who write
> compilers for it.
> 
> I see lots of evidence to convince me that the compiler writers are much more
> to blame, because when the hardware doesn't make everything nice and easy it
> is a lazy programmer who says "oh well, the machine just can't do that" as
> opposed to the hacker who figures out a way or says "I can't find a way to do
> that" because he decides it is not physically possible. Programming is my
> favorite science because it has room for artistic expression and at the same
> time it is cool and precise.
I have actually written a compiler.  It is a nightmare.  An easy chip
to write for in nice, but even then, generating efficient code in such
a recursive environment is enough to drive one loopy.

Compiler design is a whole area of work in computer science; writing for
a machine that has a many limitations as the 6502 is well-nigh impossible
if you want good code.  It would be much more reasonable, but still a
pain in the ass, to write something for the 65816.  After all, the 80286
architecture is very similar, and there exists many good compilers for
it.  However, there are STILL problems that the compiler write writing
for DECs, SUNs, and MACs don't usually have to deal with.


-- 
Syd Polk           | Wherever you go, there you are.
jazzman@claris.com | Let the music be your light.
GO 'STROS!         | These opinions are mine.  Any resemblence to other
GO RICE!           |  opinions, real or fictitious, is purely coincidence.