ee173way@sdcc3.UUCP (03/14/87)
Keywords:bug bugs BUG BUGS BUGGY insect Finally recieved the latest version of TDI's Modula-2, version 3.00a. After recompiling all of my .def's and .mod's, I tried to compile the main code (56k of text). It compiles ok, with no errors, until it tries to write out the .lnk file. At that time I am visited by a guru, by the name of Software Failure, message number 3.200DF2. Same address, every time. So, I tried raising the stack, having nothing in ram at all except for the main source module, etc, still tacos out. Configuration is 1 meg Ram (Alegra), 2 drives. Maybe a hardware (ram) problem? No, tried compiling on another amiga config'd identical. Same error. Called TDI. They claim it is the fault of a bad symbol file somewhere, caused by their "bad disk dup company" they are using. Today tried a brand new copy from a local dealer, (not a mailed upgrade). Exactly the same error. I sure hope that the error is just due to bad dup'ing, 'cause if not, well, that will be a major "bummer", seeing as to how long it takes to get anything out of TDI. Anyone else out there received the 3.00a upgrade? Experienced any problems? (Other than the new "editor" that blows up). Any insight, clues, prayers, gratefully accepted. I'll try anything. Anything but wait. John 7OHN Will I ever get my game finished? We laughed in unison...
sjl@myrias.UUCP (03/21/87)
I received my new copy (version 3.00a) of TDI Modula-2 last week, more than
9 weeks after mailing in my upgrade card (they were very late getting their
distribution ready to ship). I have not used it for much yet - just a few
short test programs. So far, I have had the following problems:
- Although I was billed $10.00 for a manual, there is no manual in the
package. The only documentation is about a dozen pages of notes. The
notes refer to the existance of a manual, but do not explain its
non-presence. The dealer that I originally bought the compiler from
(Software House in Edmonton) has called TDI for me, and been told
that the manual should have been (but wasn't) marked as "back ordered"
on the invoice. It should be shipped in about two weeks.
- One of the .sym files on the distribution disk is unreadable
(EasyGadgets.sym).
- The editor window cannot be made to fill more than about 60% of the
screen. It seems to be set up for full screen non-interlaced on a PAL
Amiga.
- The compiler flags tabs in the source text as illegal characters. This
is a major bummer, since the version of uEMACS I use inserts tabs when
you do a newline-and-indent.
- Their editor does not always seem to find the error file. On several
occasions I have gone into their editor after having the compiler write
an error file, and the editor reports no errors.
- There is no facility for converting an error file (containing a bunch
of integers in ascii) into error messages except by using their editor.
- Their editor is also nothing to get excited about. It is very basic.
No multi-buffering, no programmable functions.
- I have a test program that hangs when it does a RETURN from the main
module body. I am still tracking this down. The debugger is no help
at all for this, since it only allows you to look at a dead program
that died with a run-time error.
I also have some complaints about the way their commands work, but for the
most part these are not new to this version.
On the bright side, the compiler is both smaller and faster than it used
to be. It also appears to run under 1.2 without dying or stopping the
clock, although my testing so far has been sketchy.
Overall, I am cautiously hopeful about TDI Modula-2. This release is
clearly a loser, but the package does show quite a bit of promise. If
TDI were on the net, I would suggest that they stop adding new features
to their package and put some serious effort into quality assurance and
user interface improvements. In the mean time, I would recommend this
compiler only to people who desperately want a Modula-2 compiler on their
Amiga.
The views expressed herein are my own and not necessarily those of my
employer.
Stuart Lomas
Myrias Research Corporation
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
seismo!ubc-vision!alberta!myrias!sjlee173way@sdcc3.UUCP (03/22/87)
SYNTAX.IND must be in your current m2 dir for the error editor to work. Also, you are going to have to rewrite a *lot* of your code if you import modules that have been changed (! ARGGH). On the phone, they seem real helpful, and said that ALL of the backorders are going to be shipped the day I called (tues, I think). Les, the tech support at TDI, Dallas, told me that I could call England and talk to the developer of the compiler. I declined, and asked for them to call. (Remember, the compiler *bombs* when writing my .lnk file of the main object code...). I am certainly *NOT* going to send them my source! (They did ask!). I told them if I were rich, I'd fly to England myself and let them look at it, and of course I am just a meager student at UCSD... So, I have decided to forget about 3.00a and continue to use 2.00a, until they fix all the bugs. I have run out of time. I have one week to finish my project (game), and I can wait no longer. Good luck all m2 users, (where?), John 7OHN