[net.micro.mac] Generating Mac C code from a SUN?

guido@boring.UUCP (06/03/85)

Just a little idea that just popped up in my mind.  We are currently using
the SUMacC cross compiler to compiler C programs that must run on the Mac.
This compiler has some disadvantages (I have been bitten by a few nasty
bugs these weeks: variables named sp or pc, a function called fix, and
the last-declared local variable in a large function got trashed).
We also have a few SUN workstations running 4.2BSD Unix that are almost
idle.  These have a (I suppose) superior C compiler, which of course
generates 68000 code.  So in principle the SUN could cross-compile for
the Mac.

Questions:
- has anyone tried this?
- are there differences in subroutine linkage conventions between the
  compilers?
- how much work would it be to translate the SUMacC assembly sources
  for the SUN assembler?
- would there be legal problems in using the SUN's compiler to generate
  code for non-SUN machines?  (I can't believe this.  Do there have to be
  legal problems for *everything* concerning two or more computers?)

If I receive interesting replies (positive or negative), I'll summarize to
the net.  Thanks in advance!

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	Guido van Rossum, CWI, Amsterdam
	guido@mcvax.UUCP (a path to mcvax is known by most backbone sites)