sms@sugar.UUCP (Stanley M. Sutton) (03/12/88)
I purchased power C about a month ago. For the most part, I like it a
lot. The manual that comes with the compiler is worth more than the $20
they are asking for the compiler. Any of you that used Mix C on CP/M or
MSDOS will be familar with the book. It's been expanded for ANSI C, and
a MSC 4.0 /TC 1.0 compatable library. It has a relatively fast
compiler/linker. I've used quick C and Turbo C at work on similar programs (Not
identical, so it is not really benchmarking) and they all seem to be within
10% of each other.
However, there are some problems. I can't compile microEMACS with power
C. It apparently runs out of heap in the optimizing phase. Mix
Software says they are working on changing the compiler to use far heap
instead of near heap, but it is a complicated conversion, so don't
expect it before 3rd quarter 88. It does not always use the environment
strings properly to control the compilier/linker. An example is SET
PCOPTION=/O\C:\C\MIX\ to put objects into a libary. Instead of
overiding the object location if it is respecified on the compilier
line, the line specification is appended to options string
specification. This is not what the manual says it does, but is useful
if you are maintaining a multi-level directory of source, and want to
maintain the same structure with object. Also, most of the environment
problems can be solved by using DOS 3.3 APPEND commands.
Just recently I've run into a problem with bit fields in a structure not
working correctly. It works fine for simple cases (i.e., if I simplify
the problem, it goes away). However, in the Dr. Dobbs journals "C Chest
and Other Treasures" routine getargs, they don't work. I'm planning on
shipping off a disk this weekend to see what Mix Software thinks of it.
To summarize, Good points:
inexpensive
good manual
good user support
good libary functions
Bad points:
bit fields don't always work
some environment string problems
large programs may not compile
One additional comment. The manual for the Power Ctrace source
debugger was shipped to the printer at the beginning of March, so they
expect to begin selling and shipping around the first of April. I've
used the Mix Ctrace, and liked it as a multi-windowed source level
debugger. I expect Power Ctrace to be similar.