dmg@ssc-vax.UUCP (David Geary) (07/06/89)
Well, I just got some mail from Lattice which stated that due
to the overwhelming popularity of Lattice C++ for the Amiga,
the price for C++ has been reduced to $300 ($200 if you already
own the C compiler).
I don't often worry about a companys well being, but any company
that *lowers* prices due to high demand does not seem to have
very good business sense to me (1/2 ;-). Anyway, it's obvious
to me that Lattice finally realized that even though they have
a monopoly on the C++ market for the Amiga, that they can't get
away with charging an **absolutely ridiculous** $500 for it.
Anyway, I have some questions for those of you that have been
using Lattice C++:
1) Is it still *just* a preprocessor which spits out C code?
NOTE: Yes, I know that the preprocessor rivals the complexity
of a "true" compiler, in that it does all syntax
and type checking. However, syntax and type checking
get done *twice* - once by the C++ preprocessor, and
once by the C compiler. (leading me to my next question)
AT&T chooses (IMHO) to write a preprocessor (cfront)
which spits out C because they want something portable
that can be ported to different platforms. That's fine.
However, if I am going to pay *hundreds* of dollars for
the product from Lattice, I want it to be more than a
simple port of cfront, I want a true compiler - mostly
for speed.
I have an A1000 with 2.5M RAM and no hard disk. I'm concerned about:
1) How long does compiling take? Please don't tell me that it
runs very fast with an '020 or an '030, cause I don't have one. Right
now, I compile separate modules in around 30 sec. with Lattice C. I'd
like to know how much longer it's going to take with the C++
preprocessor sitting in front of the chain.
2) Do I *have* to get a hard disk. I'm sure Lattice recommends one,
but I'd like to get by without. Anyone using C++ without a hard disk?
Now, concerning the language as implemented by Lattice:
1) Anybody know how fast Lattice will be in getting users an update
of the language after AT&T comes out with a new rev? Cfront 2.0
just came out of AT&T on the 30th of June. When will Lattice
support all of the features of 2.0?
2) What features of 2.0 cfront are implemented in the present
Lattice C++. Multiple inheritance, anybody?
3) I can use it with Lattice5.02, right? I heard rumors that it
was only usable with 4.0, but I never substantiated that.
4) Is there an option to preserve the .c files?
5) Is there an SDB for C++? If not, can one use SDB on the .c
files (assuming the answer to 4 is yes)?
Please reply via email, as I never have time to read this newsgroup
anymore.
--
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~ David Geary, Boeing Aerospace, Seattle ~
~ "I wish I lived where it *only* rains 364 days a year" ~
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