lauren@Rand-Unix.ARPA (04/10/84)
Unless BDS C was completely rewritten lately (which I strongly doubt!) it is NOT written in itself, other than the upper level I/O library functions. BDS C is written in assembler -- that's why it's so blindingly fast. When I used to work with CP/M a lot, I found that fast compilation and loading was more important to me than many other language features -- I just didn't have time to sit around waiting for long compiles/assemblies on a single-process machine. BDS C is exceptionally fast to compile and load and is an excellent product. --Lauren--
smith@Nrl-Aic.ARPA (04/10/84)
From: Russ Smith <smith@Nrl-Aic.ARPA> BDS C IS an excellent product. C/80 IS ALSO an excellent product. BDS C costs $150. C/80 costs $50. That's all I implied by my messages. If one is starting out with the hopes of achieving success (but not yet having reached that point) one doesn't necessarily have the extra bucks to spend. I added C/80 to JB's list because it is a relatively inexpensive way to get yourself programming in C with the resulting programs doing quite well in benchmark tests in comparison to the full range of C compilers available for 8080 (z80) based machines. Nothing in my messages should be taken as knocking BDS C. Too many extremely useful things have been written and compiled by this compiler to do so. Yours quite sincerely, Russ <Smith@nrl-aic>
smith@Nrl-Aic.ARPA (04/10/84)
From: Russ Smith <smith@Nrl-Aic.ARPA> As has been pointed out by a multitude of others... BDS C is written in assembler.
POURNE@Mit-Mc.ARPA (04/10/84)
From: Jerry E. Pournelle <POURNE@Mit-Mc.ARPA> I think BDS C can be got for considerably less than $150 can't it?
Bicer.ES@Xerox.ARPA (04/10/84)
This is the updated version of my older list of the C compilers for
CP/M 80. For the people who have been observing my discussion with
Russ Smith, you should note that Russ Smith and I do agree on C/80
and BDS C issue (even though it may not be obvious from our messages).
There are several C's available for CP/M80. The prices quoted are
the list prices, and most/all of the compilers can be purchased at
a discount.
1 - BDS C: Great to learn C with. Very fast compiler,
respectable execution speed, source code of the libraries
and a well supported user's group. But it is not a full
implementation of C (lacks longs, floats, statics, and
initializers). $150.
2 - MANX AZTEC CII: Very good compiler (I use it for
production work), full implementation, you get the source
of the libraries, assembler output of the compiler can be
further hand optimized, an 8086 and 6502 and PDP-11
versions are available. Fast execution speed, but
compilation speed can be improoved usin a hard disk or
a ram disk. $199.
3 - Whitesmith's C: Don't touch it if you don't have to.
Incredibly slow compilation times, and their libraries
do not resemble the other ones that I know. $600???
4 - Echo C: For Z-80 only. Heard good things, but never seen
it.
5 - Supersoft C:I'd rather have Aztec C. Slower compilation
times, not a full implementation (the version I have),
and pain in the neck to develop software with (terrible
linking problems -too much code gets included-).
6 - C/80: A subset of C with respectable execution speed,
(apparently faster than BDS C), for only $50. I think it
produces assembler output. People interested in this compiler
should also look at 'Small C', which also includes the source
of the compiler (written in C).
Please feel free to send me info on this list, so next person who
needs advice on C compilers gets an updated list.
Jack Bicerstank@uiuccsb.UUCP (04/16/84)
#R:sri-arpa:-1215200:uiuccsb:4800003:000:189
uiuccsb!stank Apr 16 09:13:00 1984
Does anyone know anything about Alcor C? I've used their Pascal and
am pretty happy with it.
Stanley Krolikoski
Univ. of Illinois