rpw3@amdcad.UUCP (01/31/87)
As we all probabnly know by now, one reason the C compiler source is not
included with MINIX is that it's *big* (bigger than the rest of MINIX, even),
and including it would drive up the cost of the MINIX floppies, but more
importantly, the C compiler is built from the "Amsterdam Compiler Kit",
which includes several language front-ends (C, Pascal, etc.) and machine
back-ends (Intel xxx86, 68K, etc.), and has been commercially distributed
(in the US at least) by UniPress Software (Edison, NJ). This arrangement
existed for quite some time before MINIX was available.
In the way of the world, the ACK compiler technology is considered to be a
valuable commercial product, and is priced at a non-trivial sum (~$10K).
<<News Flash!>>
At USENIX/Uniforum, Andy Tanenbaum and the UniPress folk had a chance to chat
about what could be done for MINIX users, and UniPress came up with a price for
the source of the MINIX C compiler that more nearly matches the price for MINIX
itself. In addition, they restructured the way the ACK stuff will be licensed,
making it more accessible for people who want to port MINIX (particularly) to
some other machine.
Mark Krieger, President of UniPress Software, asked me to post the following
information, and since it seemed useful, I promised I would (it's paraphrased,
due to being recovered from notes scribbled on the back of a business card,
but believed to be accurate [except as noted]):
For individuals, UniPress will license under the "same terms" as MINIX is
being distributed (that is, nobody's going to come after you if you make a
copy or two for private non-commercial use), the C front-end and the IBM
PC/XT/AT back-end (i.e., what was used to built MINIX) source for the compiler
at $99.00, provided on 5 (five) 1.2M floppies (maybe more).
Again, $99.00 for the MINIX compiler source (C front-end + 80x86 back-end) from:
UniPress Software Phone: (201)985-8000
2025 Lincoln Hwy. Email: {allegra,ihnp4}!sunrise!unipress!mark
Edison, NJ 08817 Telex: 709418 ^^^^
[not sure of
his user id]
Note that this compiler has not yet compiled itself (the development having
been done with a cross-compiler), so it may require some work on the user's
part to become completely self-hosted. (They're going to try it out soon,
but it hasn't been done yet.)
Also, two other new packages are now available:
Source license for the cross compiler (to run on a multi-user Unix system,
such as a VAX, etc.) for the C front-end, the MINIX/80x86 back-end, and
one *OTHER* back-end of your choice (see below), plus some cross tools,
on magtape in "tar" format:
Universities: $ 995.00
Commercial: $4950.00
The full Amsterdam Compiler Kit (all front-ends, all back-ends) remains:
Universities: $9950.00
Commercial: $9950.00
The "one other back-end" mentioned above may be any other single target
machine architecture (in addition to the PC/XT/AT used by MINIX). In
particular, the 68000 "family" is "one" back-end (however note that as
of the time I talked with Krieger, only the 68000 proper was ready; the
68010 and 68020 are still being worked on). [I don't know what other
back-ends they support besides the 68k. Probably VAX, at least. -rpw3]
Given that (assuming you wait for the whole 68k family), the university deal
for the C front-end + xxx86 back-end + 68k back-end looks quite affordable
for a large computer-science department situation, especially if the chosen
back-end(s) happen to match whatever PC's/workstations are in use around the
campus (Macs, Amigas, and Ataris anyone?).
For further information, contact UniPress at the address above.
[Please, please! Do *NOT* write/mail/call me! -rpw3]
==========
Disclaimer: I am posting this solely to provide information for the MINIX
hackers on comp.os.minix 'cause I promised Krieger I would, and have no
other connection with UniPress (except probably to soon become a customer).
Rob Warnock
Systems Architecture Consultant
UUCP: {amdcad,fortune,sun}!redwood!rpw3
DDD: (415)572-2607
USPS: 627 26th Ave, San Mateo, CA 94403