marcos@caus-dp.UUCP (Marcos R. Della) (11/13/87)
Well, I just got my copy of the new Borland magazine that they are
sending to all registered users. Its called Turbo Technix and the
cover price is $10.00 for the bi-monthly publication.
This issue they talk about turbo pascal 4.0, they show pictures, and
give you information on converting programs from 3.0 to 4.0. From what
I've read, there is going to be a definate conversion process which will
prevent portability between the 3.0 and 4.0 versions. For some of us who
distribute source code with our work, this is going to cause some
problems as 4.0 starts poliferating around the world to replace 3.0.
It definatly looks alot better and the thing that they seem to be
pushing is the 'units' system where procedures can be linked and
included in your code without re-compiling each unit every time
you want to put a package together.
There are several new types that are defined (longint, shortint, etc...)
and new methods of using them. There are near and far procedures, interrupt
systems, new devices and the removal of old, etc. They also included
two libraries called turbo3 and graph3 to allow you to attempt to run
your 3.0 programs as is with just the inclusion of a unit statment at
the beginning of your program. I haven't seen it yet, but I hope that
there is an #ifdef type of statment using the {} so that you can put
these in the 3.0 programs that will only be interperted during 4.0
compilation...
Well, the magazine has lots of other articles covering turboc, prolog,
basic, and a series of departments... As I look more closely to the
magazine, I'll post a review of what I think. Others out there in the
world should have gotten their copies by now also and can help comment
on the thing...
Marcos R. Dellamccaugh@uiucdcsb.UUCP (11/21/87)
I really don't mean to come across as the devil's advocate on this subject, but it does dismay me to see so much of this notesfile devoted to Borland business. I have by now used 3 or 4 Borland products extensively for the past 3 years and I really don't rate them as sufficiently mature to warrant a place in this notesfile. (I'm surprised anyone takes them seriously!) This is NOT the place to report bugs in Borland software, which are known to be legion anyway and ought to be directed to the source itself. It was my understanding that the "comp.lang. ..." notesfiles were dedicated to a discussion of problems inherent in the languages regardless of particular implementation (not to mention that Borland's is a most non-standard imple- mentation). Therefore, I would prefer seeing complaints about Borland con- fined to another notesfile, so we can get on with the real problems of the 'language' Pascal (as indicated by the title of this notesfile). Again, sorry if I sound pedantic -- I DO sympathasize with the victims of Borland incompetence (of which I am definitely one who would very much appreciate a trip to Scott's Valley to straighten those morons out!) but this is just not the appropriate forum for such an exercise. Scott (mccaugh @ uiucmsl)
nacer@mist.cs.orst.edu (Abdenacer Moussaoui C.) (11/27/87)
Bravo! tres bien dit. (well said). Who evers deals with those guys deserves the pain. Let's keep it PASCAL (may be some C).
cmtse@watmath.waterloo.edu (Clement TSE) (11/30/87)
I am a Canadian Turbo Pacal Owner, I also own some of the toolboxes, however I do not receive this magazine, is it for U.S. customer only?
catone@dsl.cis.upenn.edu.UUCP (12/04/87)
I disagree with your complaints on the strong Borland flavor of this news group. Certainly discussing language design issues in the abstract has a value, but applying these abstract principles to real problems using real compilers (no flames about Turbo Pascal being a real compiler, please :-) is at least as valuable. And although I personally agree with your comment on Borland's nonstandard implementation, and have several serious complaints (along with some compliments) on this point, fighting de facto standards is a long and painful journey often of questionable value to all involved. - Tony catone@dsl.cis.upenn.edu catone@wharton.upenn.edu