ralph@atrp.mit.edu (Ralph L. Vinciguerra) (08/14/90)
Thanks to all of you who sent me information. I guess my conclusion is that I'm going to wait until Lattice, Manx, or someone else comes out with a more modern version of C++. I'm using version 2.0 at work, and the only version available is an older one. Folks said the documentation was thin, and C++ often caused more problems than it was worth. Since I'm interested in the C++ style, I'm developing a way to program with a similar style, but using plain C. It takes more work and looks weird, but it should migrate to C++ when a good version comes along. I clipped some of the comments from folks and included them below. Thanks again! ----------------- From: mit-atrp!randy@csseq.MIT.EDU (Randy Hutson) I own Lattice C++ and think it is really pathetic. The translator is based on AT&T C++ 1.1. The language it compiles is fairly obsolete now. It's very slow, uses a lot of memory, and causes too many GURUs. The translator is shipped with the Lattice 4.0 C compiler which is fairly old now (Lattice C is up to 5.05 now). Two manuals are shipped for the C++ translator (a user's guide and a reference guide). No manuals are shipped for the C compiler, so unless you have separately bought the Lattice C compiler as well, you're out of luck if you have problem or question with the C compiler. I registered my compiler, but have heard no word of an upgrade to a newer version of C++ (I bought my compiler last fall). I read in the newsgroups that the C++ compiler was not written by Lattice (SAS) but was instead written by a contractor hired by Lattice. The person who wrote the compiler has reportedly moved on to other things. I don't plan to ever purchase another Lattice product again. I own Aztec C 5.0 and am pleased with it. I haven't heard of a C++ compiler by Manx, but I plan to wait or do without (I find the Lattice C++ compiler unusable) until or if Manx sells a C++ compiler. So in summary, I'd advise you not to buy Lattice C++. :-) ------------------ From: mit-atrp!dcl@ncsc1.att.com Unless you have the patience of a saint, don't waste your time on the current Lattice C++. Don't misunderstand, I really do like Lattice (I just upgraded to their 5.10 compiler this morning), but their C++ has serious problems. LC++ is based on AT&T's V1.1 (yes, 1.1) C++ front-end. As such, it is missing many (most?) of the best features of C++ V2.1 (multiple inheritance, pure virtual classes, etc.). It is also extremely unstable. On a UNIX system, where it can dump core, this really isn't a problem. On the Amiga, where it gurus during the pre- processor stage with no warning, it is a royal pain. I've got some example code I was working on which compiles fine; however, if I reverse the order of two independent functions within the module, the pre-processor will guru. Everytime a bug popped up, I had to figure out if it was theirs or mine. CPR (the debugger) doesn't understand C++ name mangling, so debugging (assuming you can get past the pre-processor) is also interesting. Lattice (now SAS) is working on a native-code C++ compiler which will be fully compatible with V2.1. If I were you, I'd wait for it. -------- From: mit-atrp!eeh@btr.com (Eduardo E. Horvath eeh@btr.com) The question isn't very clear. It works. There are some problems. The error messages are rather confusing ( what does CLASS NOT COMPLETELY DEFINED mean? ) and there are some rare occations when the C compiler (that generates the executable) chokes on cfront's output. I have never had cfront crash. The current cfront is from version AT&T version 1.2 (?) not 2.0. Lattice is said to be working on a compiler (as opposed to preprocessor) that is compatible with version 2.0 The Lattice product comes with a complete class library for most Intuition, Exec and AmigaDOS structures. I haven't found any holes, but I haven't looked that hard. My experience is that the source-code debugger doesn't work for C++. Maybe the next release. ------------ From: mit-atrp!cbmtor!sjorr@uunet.UU.NET (Stephen Orr) To: ralph@atrp.mit.edu Subject: Re: Lattice C++ recommendations? I have Lattice C++ and can offer this information, 1) It is NOT 2.0 2) It wasn't written by Lattice, or for that matter SAS, and as such doesn't support some of the newer compiler 'niceties' like 'chip' keywords, or for that matter full use of the debugger 3) The documentation is fairly sparse. I have implementation problems, and even compiler problems, This may mean that I don't adequately understand C++ (probable) but the book they supply does not in itself go far enough either. 4) At present SAS does not have C++ (I talked to them 3 days ago) and so they have no idea about future enhancements etc. 5) I find that using C++ in it's present form will SLOW YOU DOWN rather than speed up your development. 6) Lattice includes a set of 'C++ized' includes which include a set of very sensible methods and classes for a significant portion of the Amiga's OS....