jc@skyking.UUCP (J.C. Webber III) (01/12/91)
I'm a bit concerned. My machine's manufacturer is now defunct (CounterPoint Computers). As the world slowly moves to ANSI-c what happens to those of us with older machines that don't have the ability or resources to have the new compiler ported to our machines? For now most designers using ANSI-c are covering themselves with ifdef statements, but I don't see this continuing forever. Another problem is that any applications that I might write on this machine won't be upward compatible thus lowering their potential market value. Does anyone else out there share this concern? What I hope to find is some sort of filter program that will search, identify and convert K&R to ANSI-c and vice-versa. Does such a thing exist today? Is it Public Domain? Where can I get a copy? thx net.people jc -- J.C.Webber III Skyking Inc.
gwyn@smoke.brl.mil (Doug Gwyn) (01/13/91)
In article <114@skyking.UUCP> jc@skyking.UUCP (J.C. Webber III) writes: >I'm a bit concerned. My machine's manufacturer is now defunct >(CounterPoint Computers). As the world slowly moves to ANSI-c >what happens to those of us with older machines that don't >have the ability or resources to have the new compiler ported to >our machines? If you don't replace your system within a very few years, code importing difficulties will be the least of your worries. Computer technology has been advancing at such a rate that it is normally more economical for most businesses to upgrade to a new system every few years than to continue using an old one forever.
dave@cs.arizona.edu (Dave P. Schaumann) (01/13/91)
In article <114@skyking.UUCP> jc@skyking.UUCP (J.C. Webber III) writes: > >I'm a bit concerned. My machine's manufacturer is now defunct >(CounterPoint Computers). As the world slowly moves to ANSI-c >what happens to those of us with older machines that don't >have the ability or resources to have the new compiler ported to >our machines? You could always hire some grad student(s) fresh from a compiler writing course to write a new compiler for you... You may not get the most killer-optimizing tight code compiler, but at least you'd have something that works... I don't know when the standard comes up for reveiw before ANSI again, but I suspect it won't take more than 1 or 2 more iterations of the process before your pre-ansi compiler is hopelessly inadequate for 'ANSI C' programming. At some point you're going to find that creating conversion code is more expensive than just writing a new compiler. I believe it was already expressed on a similar thread that writing a robust and complete ANSI to pre-ANSI converter would be of dubious value. Also, you may try to contact other users of your computer, and share the cost of writing a new compiler among you. >thx net.people > >jc > >-- >J.C.Webber III >Skyking Inc. Dave Schaumann | You are in a twisty maze of little dave@cs.arizona.edu | C statements, all different.
gwyn@smoke.brl.mil (Doug Gwyn) (01/13/91)
In article <650@caslon.cs.arizona.edu> dave@cs.arizona.edu (Dave P. Schaumann) writes: >You could always hire some grad student(s) fresh from a compiler >writing course to write a new compiler for you... You may not get >the most killer-optimizing tight code compiler, but at least you'd >have something that works... Actually, if the students are not completely inept, they would probably port GNU CC instead of trying to implement their own compiler from scratch. GNU CC can generate pretty good code.
jim@anacom1.UUCP (Jim Bacon) (01/13/91)
In article <114@skyking.UUCP> jc@skyking.UUCP (J.C. Webber III) writes: > >I'm a bit concerned. My machine's manufacturer is now defunct >(CounterPoint Computers). As the world slowly moves to ANSI-c [stuff deleted] >this concern? What I hope to find is some sort of filter program >that will search, identify and convert K&R to ANSI-c and vice-versa. >Does such a thing exist today? Is it Public Domain? Where can >I get a copy? [stuff deleted] >J.C.Webber III >Skyking Inc. Sorry to use bandwidth with what is a private request, but I do show your site in my uucp maps and do not entirely trust the e-mail I just sent you to make back along the news route. I am also using Counterpoint computers here at Anacom and share you concerns. It might be mutually benefitial for us to establish a reliable uucp connection or path between us. Please give me a voice call at (714) 774-8080 or send e-mail to jim@anacom1.cpd.com (or {lawnet,mbf,dhw68k,zardoz}!anacom1!jim). Regards a filter, I have seen such a beast come across the net and I probably have it saved away, will take a look for it later this evening. Hopefully a more detailed e-mail msg will arrive before you see this reply. -- Jim Bacon | "A computer's attention span is Anacom General Corp., CA | only as long as its power cord." jim@anacom1.cpd.com | {dhw68k, lawnet, mbf, zardoz}!anacom1!jim | Anon.
jim@anacom1.UUCP (Jim Bacon) (01/13/91)
In article <713@anacom1.UUCP> jim@anacom1.UUCP (Jim Bacon) writes: >In article <114@skyking.UUCP> jc@skyking.UUCP (J.C. Webber III) writes: >> >>J.C.Webber III >>Skyking Inc. > >Sorry to use bandwidth with what is a private request, but I do show >your site in my uucp maps and do not entirely trust the e-mail I just >sent you to make back along the news route. > I need to get more sleep, I meant to say that I do *not* show your site in my maps and smail does not find a route to you. -- Jim Bacon | "A computer's attention span is Anacom General Corp., CA | only as long as its power cord." jim@anacom1.cpd.com | {dhw68k, lawnet, mbf, zardoz}!anacom1!jim | Anon.
jim@anacom1.UUCP (Jim Bacon) (01/14/91)
In article <14845@smoke.brl.mil> gwyn@smoke.brl.mil (Doug Gwyn) writes: >In article <650@caslon.cs.arizona.edu> dave@cs.arizona.edu (Dave P. Schaumann) writes: >>You could always hire some grad student(s) fresh from a compiler >>writing course to write a new compiler for you... You may not get > >Actually, if the students are not completely inept, they would probably >port GNU CC instead of trying to implement their own compiler from >scratch. GNU CC can generate pretty good code. I once had a discussion with the manufacturer in question (Acer Counterpoint) and was told at that time that they were going to use GNU C as the ANSI compiler on future models. It is possible that they had started the project and might still have the sources laying around. I have obtained similar support in the past from them on such matters and they are usually cooperative. As a side note, Acer has recently purchased Altos Computers and are still in the process of moving people around to new buildings, etc. and are difficult to get in touch with at the time. -- Jim Bacon | "A computer's attention span is Anacom General Corp., CA | only as long as its power cord." jim@anacom1.cpd.com | {dhw68k, lawnet, mbf, zardoz}!anacom1!jim | Anon.
mike@bria.UUCP (Michael Stefanik) (01/14/91)
In article <114@skyking.UUCP> skyking.UUCP!jc (J.C. Webber III) writes: >As the world slowly moves to ANSI-C what happens to those of us [...] Go scrounge a copy of GNU's C compiler. Life will be wonderful for you again. -- Michael Stefanik, Systems Engineer (JOAT), Briareus Corporation UUCP: ...!uunet!bria!mike -- technoignorami (tek'no-ig'no-ram`i) a group of individuals that are constantly found to be saying things like "Well, it works on my DOS machine ..."