[comp.sys.atari.st] Lattice C

jimomura@lsuc.on.ca (Jim Omura) (05/28/91)

     I have been offered a 2nd hand copy of Lattice C version 5.
Unfortunately the registration card has been sent in.  Does
anybody know what Lattice' policy is regarding transfer of
registration (for updates and such)?  Does anybody have a
North American phone number for Lattice so I can call them
and discuss the matter with them?
-- 
Jim Omura, 2A King George's Drive, Toronto, (416) 652-3880
lsuc!jimomura
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fh@well.sf.ca.us (Fabian Hahn) (05/30/91)

>     I have been offered a 2nd hand copy of Lattice C version 5.
>Unfortunately the registration card has been sent in.  Does
>anybody know what Lattice' policy is regarding transfer of
>registration (for updates and such)? 

  Goldleaf Publishing is now representing HiSoft in the US. The 
policy for reregistering current users of HiSoft products has not
been finalizes jet. I suspect there will be a small $$ amout to
get access to tech-support and upgrades. 

  The number for Goldleaf is 415/257-3510

Fabian

adamd@rhi.hi.is (Adam David) (06/01/91)

>     I have been offered a 2nd hand copy of Lattice C version 5.
>Unfortunately the registration card has been sent in.  Does
>anybody know what Lattice' policy is regarding transfer of
>registration (for updates and such)? 

I would have thought that a written transfer of rights from the previous
licensee to the new one could be sent to Hisoft or their appointed agent
for changing the registration details. The person who originally sent in
the registration card will then be unable to claim any support because
he is no longer registered. It didn't ought to cost anything, did it?

--
Adam David.
(adamd@rhi.hi.is)

david10@garfield.cs.mun.ca (David Churchill) (06/13/91)

I just purchased a copy of Lattice C (v. 3.03.02 (c) 1986 . . . hey, for $20
CAN used, I can't complain :-)), and I have a few questions (my apologies if
all of these questions were answered recently on the net) : 

1) What are the major differences (improvements) to the compiler in its latest
version (v. 5.01?)? 

2) Is Metacomo still in business? If not, who is carrying the line? 

3) Is an upgrade path available, and is it worth it? (at the moment, I'm just
writing small, uncomplicated programs for use on a UNIX platform. Since I can't
always get through to the system via modem, why not use the ST?)  

E-mail would be preferred, unless you feel it would be more appropriate to 
post. 

Thanks in advance,
Dave C


-- 
Dave Churchill  DoD #266                    CS Undergrad 
david10@garfield.cs.mun.ca                  Memorial University of Newfoundland
ar473@freenet.cleveland.edu                 St. John's, Nfld. Canada 
"I'm always sober enough to know when I'm drunk." - Andy Capp  

jimomura@lsuc.on.ca (Jim Omura) (06/15/91)

In article <1991Jun13.024614.7493@garfield.cs.mun.ca> david10@garfield.cs.mun.ca (David Churchill) writes:
>I just purchased a copy of Lattice C (v. 3.03.02 (c) 1986 . . . hey, for $20
>CAN used, I can't complain :-)), and I have a few questions (my apologies if
>all of these questions were answered recently on the net) : 
>
>1) What are the major differences (improvements) to the compiler in its latest
>version (v. 5.01?)? 

     Well, first, you don't even have the "latest" revision of version
3.  In my version 5.06.01 manual it refers to conversion of programs
from version 3.04.  So it would seem that they had at least 1 more
major revision even within the 3.nn series since yours was last
upgraded.

     Now as for version 5.nn, well the biggest reasons to upgrade are:

1.  Support for ANSI code.  The documentation is a tad unclear
    whether it support 100% of ANSI or just "almost", but it looks
    complete to me.  Unfortunately this has made it somewhat difficult
    for me to decide what state I'm going to leave some of my
    source code since I use a few "old K&R C" compilers such as
    "Small-C" for CP/M work and Microware 6809 C for OS-9 work
    and Sozobon C.  I think I'll convert the most Atari specific
    commercial code I'm doing to Lattice/ANSI C and leave the
    rest mainly in "old C".  But if you plan on a carreer as a
    programmer, I suggest that you have complete ANSI C compatibility
    as soon as possible.

2.  Support for newer POSIX calls.  This is an independent matter
    from ANSI C, but it's the same reasoning.  It's "the future"
    and if you're going that way, you want the upgrade.

3.  Better support of TOS/GEM.  This I'll have to guess a bit
    at.  Some of the stuff looks the same to me as the stuff covered
    in the Abacus books.  Other things look different and possibly
    new.  I think the VDI has been extended a bit in TOS 1.4.
    Certainly the STE specific calls like the support for the
    sound output daemon are new.

     Beyond that I'll have to speculate that there are probably
fewer bugs than what you have and I expect a bunch of new compiler
options.  I don't know if your compiler creates code other than
68000 specific code.  This compiler has switches for '020 and '030
as well as support for 68881 and 68882 math co-processors.  They
also claim a better set of libraries generally due to re-coding
in assembly language, so most programs should turn out smaller and
faster than before.

>2) Is Metacomo still in business? If not, who is carrying the line? 

     I've been in contact with Goldleaf in the US (415) 257-3510.
In fact, I'm supposed to call them back Monday to discuss upgrading
my 5.06.01 to 5.06.02.  They haven't received the upgrade packages
from HiSoft.  It may be relevant that HiSoft in England seems to
be in control of the situation overall now.  I don't know if
Metacomo still exists, but it probably isn't relevant.  You'd
better call Goldleaf though and see what arrangements you can amke
for upgrades.  You may have a problem.  I called Goldleaf *before*
I bought my Lattice just to make sure there wouldn't be a problem.
But I'm at least starting with a HiSoft release.

>3) Is an upgrade path available, and is it worth it? (at the moment, I'm just
>writing small, uncomplicated programs for use on a UNIX platform. Since I can't
>always get through to the system via modem, why not use the ST?)  



-- 
Jim Omura, 2A King George's Drive, Toronto, (416) 652-3880
lsuc!jimomura
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