Cees.van.Kessel@p4465.f14.n512.z2.fidonet.org (Cees van Kessel) (05/01/91)
During a recent cleanup of my paper stack I found several article copies on
compiler reviews. Another trip to the Uni library completed the list and here
its:
=====================================================================
Ribar, L.J. "OS/2 Programming goes Modula-2" Computer Language 83-89,
Nov. 1990
Compiler reviewed:
Jensen & Partners International: TopSpeed Modula-2 v. 2.0 rel. 1.05b
MultiScope Inc.: MultiScope Modula OS/2 v. 1.02
Stony Brook Software: Professional Modula-2 v. 2.10
Taylor, D. Software Reviews, Computer Language, 91-95, Nov. 1990
Compiler reviewed:
Metrowerks Modula-2 PSE, $ 179
Righter, D.A. Programmer's Corner, "TopSpeed Modula-2 with Object
Extensions." J. of Pascal, Ada & Modula-2, 56-58, July/Aug. 1990
Compilers reviewed:
Jensen & Partners International: TopSpeed Modula-2 v.2.0
Schulman, A. "Modula-2 and OS/2 Join Forces." BYTE, 171-174, Aug.
1989.
Compilers reviewed:
Logitech, Inc.: Modula OS/2, v. 1.00
Stony Brook Software: Professional Modula-2 2.0
Jensen and Partners Int.: TopSpeed Modula-2 OS/2 v. 1.20
Anderson B.R. Software Review, "Stony Brook Modula-2", J. of Pascal,
Ada & Modula-2, 69-73, May/June 1990.
Compilers reviewed:
Stony Brook Software Inc.: Professional Modula-2 v. 2.02
Ladd, S.R. "Modula-2 Compilers: New Kids on the Block Mature." Computer
Language 99-110, March 1989.
Compiler reviewed:
Fitted Software Tools: FST Modula-2 v. 2.0a
Interface Technologies Corp.: M2SDS-XP v. 2.2
Jensen & Partners International: TopSpeed Modula-2 v.1.14
Logitech Inc.: Modula-2 v. 3.03
Stony Brook Software Inc.: Modula-2 v. 1.2
QuickMod v. 1.0
Tayloris Software A.G.: TaylorModula-2 v. 2.1
Workman & Associates: FTL Modula-2 v. 1.12
Haltiwanger, M.E. "Software Reviews." J. of Pascal, Ada & Modula-2,
54-56, Jan./Febr. 1989
Compilers reviewed:
Jensen & Partners International: TopSpeed Modula-2 v.1.12
Porter, K. "The State-of-the-Art in Modula-2." Dr. Dobb's Journal,
64-81, 100-106, Sept. 1988
Compilers reviewed:
Workman & Associates: FTL Modula-2 v. 1.08
Logitech Inc.: Modula-2 v. 3.03
Jensen & Partners International: TopSpeed Modula-2 v.1.10
Stony Brook Software Inc.: Modula-2 v. 1.10
Maturo, L.R. "Comparison of Five Low Cost PC Modula-2 Compilers",
J. of Pascal, Ada & Modula-2, 5-13, Vol. 7 No. 3, May/June 1988
Compilers reviewed:
Workman & Associates: FTL Modula-2 v. 0.97
Interface Technologies Corp.: Modula-2 Development System v. 2.1a
Fitted Software Tools: FST Modula-2 v. 1.2
Modula Corporation Modula-2, v. 1.0
Farbware Farbware Modula-2 v. 1.2.4
Sand, P.A. "Three Modula-2 Programming Systems", BYTE, 333-336, Jan.
1987.
Compilers reviewed:
Logitech Inc.: Modula-2/86 Development System v. 2.00
Modula Corporation: Native Code Modula-2
PCollier Systems Inc.: Modula-2PC
Shammas, N.C. "Modula-2 Compilers for the IBM PC." Dr. Dobb's
Journal, 48-63, Oct. 1986.
Compilers reviewed:
PCollier Systems Inc. Modula-2PC, v. 1.0
Interface Technologies Corp.: M2SDS v. 2.00
Logitech Inc. Modula-2/86 Development System v. 2.00
Modula Corporation PCModula-2, v. 1.0
=========================================================================
This might be of some help with your next investment or makes you just be happy
with what you have ...
Many regards,
Cees van Kessel
--
uucp: uunet!m2xenix!puddle!2!512!14.4465!Cees.van.Kessel
Internet: Cees.van.Kessel@p4465.f14.n512.z2.fidonet.orgeepjm@cc.newcastle.edu.au (05/07/91)
In article <2934.2821B3F2@puddle.fidonet.org>, Cees.van.Kessel@p4465.f14.n512.z2.fidonet.org (Cees van Kessel) writes: > During a recent cleanup of my paper stack I found several article copies on > compiler reviews. Another trip to the Uni library completed the list and here > its: [and then follows a list of references to review articles for various Modula-2 compilers] This is undoubtedly useful stuff, but I'm feeling lazy, so it's worth asking the question: has anyone read these reviews (and/or other sources of information) to the point of being to reach some general conclusions - for example, is it possible to make statements of the form "almost everyone agrees that Brand X is far superior to its competitors"? Or does it simply turn out that different reviewers have different opinions? For the record, here is what I know about the subject: 1. I've used several different Modula-2 compilers for the VAX, and they were all of unacceptable quality. (Sorry, I can't remember the names of the suppliers, though I could ask our computing centre if anyone really wants to know). 2. I've briefly used a Logitech compiler for the IBM PC before giving up in disgust - though I've since been told that that was an old version and that some of the problems with it have been fixed. 3. I've used FTL for the IBM PC very extensively over the last few years, and am generally satisfied although I can see some room for improvement. I have a rather long list of bugs for this one (but this is not a criticism, I believe that I would accumulate an equally long list for *any* compiler that I had used that heavily). It has only two really severe faults: (a) all the built-in floating point operations are badly designed (slow, and not re-entrant so that programs crash when you try to use multitasking); (b) it can only produce Real Address Mode code, i.e. it ignores the segmentation hardware of the 80286 and up and therefore you are limited to program size < 640K. There are a few other aspects of the compiler design with which I disagree, but I didn't plan to make this posting a full review (Could produce a full review, I suppose, if enough people want it). 4. I've seen lots of commentary, in this group and elsewhere, on various other compilers but very little on *comparative* judgements - most people, like me, probably know only one compiler really well and therefore can't answer the interesting question of "which is better than which". Peter Moylan eepjm@cc.newcastle.edu.au