mjp@spice.cs.cmu.edu.UUCP (03/02/87)
Keywords:
Does anybody have any information on the modula-2 compilers currently
available for the Amiga, with regards to features included with the
package, size and speed of generated code, and price? I have heard
that the TDI compiler currently produces faster code than Manx 3.30e.
I have also heard some things about the Pecan compiler, and would like
to know if it is a better buy than TDI (a friend of mine informs me
that an old version of Pecan compiled to p-code -- certainly not
desirable. Is this still true?)
--M
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Mike Portuesi / Carnegie Mellon University Computer Science Department
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"Amiga hackers do it graphically, with lots of sound effects"ee173way@sdcc3.UUCP (03/03/87)
I use TDI m2 exclusively. They have been pretty good in the past about upgrades, performance, etc. *Someday* (soon) the latest version will be shipped. Every time I call them, they tell me that it is either shipping that day or the following friday. Still haven't received it... Other than that one small gripe, I am very impressed with the compiler. It is fast, produces tight, compact code, and the executable in most cases is faster than Aztec's C (or so TDI's benchmarks show). C is still faster in tight loops using register vars, but otherwise m2 is faster. TDI has been writing 68000 modula-2 compilers for some time, including ST versions, and so they have a very optimized compiler (to -> native executable machine code, not p-code, etc). I have heard nothing about the Pecan version, so I cannot make a comparasion. The latest TDI version will have an integrated compiler - editor, so when errors occur, you'll be placed in the editor where the error occurred (similar to turbo pascal). It'll be 33% faster (the original version was acceptably fast) and produce even better code. I have written my first video game using m2, and will be out on the market sometime after receiving the latest compiler (so I can finish up). If you want to get Modula-2 so you won't have to learn or deal with C, well, you're still gonna have to learn C to translate all of the examples from the RKM (which you'll need as well, for any serious work). Last I read, the TDI m2 compiler retailed for $149.99 for the developers version, and $299.99 for the comercial version. Of course you can be it discounted locally or through the mail (Go Amiga is where I ordered mine). There is also an $89 regular version, but I feel you should at least get the developers version (extra tools, info you will need). John 7OHN