wood@aavin.cs.wisc.edu (John Wood) (10/06/89)
As promised, here is a short summary of the results of my call for
information regarding Modula-2 compilers for MIPS architecture and
the availability of Modula2 to C translators. Many thanks to
those who responded.
John
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Modula-2 for MIPS Architecture:
From what I have been able to piece together, I believe there are
two efforts, one of which believes will go to market early 90.
GARDENS POINT MODULA:
John Gough (j_gough@qut.edu.au) writes:
We have an entirely new modula-2 front end, "gardens point modula"
with the following features
most of the ISO extensions (rest real soon now)
best error reporting/diagnosis known to mankind
most modern compiler technology (fast but memory hungry)
very good integration into UNIX tools and libraries
The compiler does not inherit either code or data structures from any of
the previous m2 compilers which we have worked on, but is a ground-up
design targetted specifically at 32-bit, paged, RISC instruction set,
UNIX boxes. I am the oz representative on the ISO working group, so we
believe the code is tracking the future standard in all respects.
The first target was HP9000/8xx, and this is now in beta test both here
in Brisbane and also at a couple of sites in Europe. We will take mips
and DECstation 3100 versions to market in the first quarter of '90.
Apollo DN10000 versions later, then we might think about VAX/ultrix.
The HP version is proving most robust and produces code which benchmarks
at about the same numbers as HP's cc.
This is an industrial strength product, and its production is a
commercial enterprise. We have an exclusive marketing arrangement for
all of europe and north america with A+L Meier-Vogt AG and their
american subsidiary Interface Technologies. Prices are about
US$4k for a 9000/840, but with 50% discount for educational sites.
Pricing is based on users not grunt, so DECstation will be cheaper.
[end of John's note]
Albert Meier (Europe): aplus@ifi.ethz.(ch/UUCP)
Tele: +41/65/52 03 11
Interface Technologies (N. America): Tele: (713) 523-8422
Houston, TX
The other effort is an effort by MIPS I believe that is porting
the DECWRL Modula-2 compiler from VAX to MIPS.
There were also possible indications of other efforts, and interest
from other companies if the market demand is there.
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Now, the Modula-2 to C translator:
Once again I risk the wrath of "real Moduleans" and mention that I
have received two pointers of interest.
Frode L. Odegard relates that SOS Software of Augsburg, West Germany
has a translator that he believes was used to bootstrap Modula
compilers on Unix machines where no Modula implementation could be
obtained.
And, Larry Campbell states that Olivetti is soon to release a Modula-3
to C translator. He suggests contacting modula-3@stl.olivetti.com
for details.
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[End of summary ]