foust@gumby.UUCP (05/27/85)
I purchased the Proline C compiler for the C64 last week. Much to
my surprise, it arrived just three days later.
I was miffed at what I recieved for my $100:
What you get is the double-sided disk containing the shell
and libraries, plus a primer on the C language itself, plus
a 43 page "manual."
WTF do I need a C primer if I am buying the compiler for the
language? The book is over 500 pages, and rather simplistic.
It is normally available from Howard W. Sams Books, for a list
price of $19.95, under the title "C Primer Plus".
Apparently, the Proline people felt guilty about sending out a
C compiler without adequate documentation. Besides the 500
general C primer, you receive a stapled together, 43 page manual written
by some engineer. (Maybe the author himself, which is usually a
mistake in itself.) It rehashes three programs lifted from K&R,
and contains such zingers as "This is admittedly awkward, but in
practice bit fields are not frequently used so their absence should
not present a great problem," when explaining why bit fields are
not implemented.
Well, they cover all the editor commands in less than one page,
and that's for both editors, the simple editor, and the syntax
checking editor. It's almost like using a stolen program - you
don't really have a manual, and have to guess at the commands.
Another neat feature - the disk it came on was so el cheapo that
my drive wouldn't turn it. To me, this means they were trying to
make even more money. After using the disk for a few minutes,
it locked up, and I had to perform surgery to transfer it to another
disk envelope.
As usual, they make the standard warranty claims, that the product
might not really work, etc., and announce that I can get bug fixes
and updates for only $20, which might be in U.S. or Canadian funds,
it didn't say. Thanks, guys. Backups are only $5, but the program
isn't heavily protected, so no problem.
I'd like to review it more extensively in the next few weeks.
What are the secondary impressions of the people who posted the
initial reviews of this product?
Also, Brian Hilchie, the author, attends school at University of
Waterloo, and has posted here before. I don't know if he's still
here for the summer.
John Foust
wisc-gumby!foust
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John Foust
*** INSERT WITTY LINE HERE ***bahilchie@water.UUCP (Brian Hilchie) (05/28/85)
> Apparently, the Proline people felt guilty about sending out a > C compiler without adequate documentation. Besides the 500 > general C primer, you receive a stapled together, 43 page manual written > by some engineer. (Maybe the author himself, which is usually a > mistake in itself.) I agree that the documentation leaves much to be desired. As it turns out, much of it was indeed written by me. However, most if it was intended for the use of the company only. I had been told that they were going to prepare the documentation, and was a little miffed myself when I saw the results. When I questioned them about it they said they would expand the manual if there were enough complaints about it. > After using the disk for a few minutes, > it locked up, and I had to perform surgery to transfer it to another > disk envelope. I haven't heard of any problems like this before. Perhaps the disk was damaged in the mail...? No? In any case I'll pass this on to the company. If anyone using C Power (what a silly name!) has problems, questions, criticisms, or suggestions, don't hesitate to mail me here. Contrary to what the back cover may say I don't have much to do at the moment except answer mail. Brian Hilchie {decvax,utzoo,ihnp4,allegra,clyde}!watmath!water!bahilchie
schwrtze@csd2.UUCP (Eric Schwartz group) (05/28/85)
I felt the same way about the big C primer: who needs it? However, upon reflection I have concluded that the class of buyers of this compiler cannot be assumed to consist solely of professional programmers or of those experienced in C. Many might appreciate the inclusion of a primer. My other impressions of the package are not similar to yours. If your disk did not load properly, I bet it was a fluke. I have had my disk exchanged for updated versions (at no cost!) twice, so I've been through three of them, and have had no problems loading. ProLine has been unbelievably nice and helpful. And though the instructions for the editors are not verbose, one is in fact able to use them with ease. And there are two bbss, where Brian Hilchie logs on sometimes, for discussion of the compiler; good information for better use of the product has begun to apopear there. But the main thing is, here's a C compiler for the 64. It works. It works well. It's a pleasure to have it. What's your beef?
schwrtze@csd2.UUCP (Eric Schwartz group) (05/28/85)
I felt the same way about the big C primer: who needs it? However, upon reflection I have concluded that the class of buyers of this compiler cannot be assumed to consist solely of professional programmers or of those experienced in C. Many might appreciate the inclusion of a primer. My other impressions of the package are not similar to yours. If your disk did not load properly, I bet it was a fluke. I have had my disk exchanged for updated versions (at no cost!) twice, so I've been through three of them, and have had no problems loading. ProLine has been unbelievably nice and helpful. And though the instructions for the editors are not verbose, one is in fact able to use them with ease. And there are two bbss, where Brian Hilchie logs on sometimes, for discussion of the compiler; good information for better use of the product has begun to apopear there. But the main thing is, here's a C compiler for the 64. It works. It works well. It's a pleasure to have it. What's your beef? PS: updates and bug fixes are not $20; they are free. A backup disk is $20 US.