[net.micro] 8086 C compiler

jim (11/12/82)

Good grief!  I had no idea there were so many people out there who
wanted a C compiler for 8086.  The chip isn't *that* good.  I'll try to
answer all of your questions about my compiler at once:

There is very little in the way of run time support.  I'll be glad to
send what I have.

There is very little in the way of documentation.  Again, I'll send
what I have.

I don't intend to support this thing.  Send bug reports to /dev/null.

32 bit pointers are supported;  32 bit integers are not.  Register
variables are not supported.  Floats and the 8087 are not supported.
Although pointers are 32 bits, arithmetic is done on the offset only.

I don't have an assembler.  You'll have to talk to Intel.  I think the
assembler you can get for your IBM PC understands Intel mnemonics, but
I'm not sure.  I use it with an Intel assembler and generate code for
Eden node machines, which are kind of like home-made SUNS with 8086
instead of 68000.

The compiler is based on PCC, so it should run on any Unix with a big
enough address space to hold it.  I use a Vax with Berkeley Unix.  I
haven't tried it on an 11, but I would guess it won't fit without
modification.

There are enough bugs in it that you will have to modify a lot of your
programs.  It won't compile itself, but it does compile standard Unix
sorts of things (like "ed") with little or no trouble.

I got the compiler from Terman at MIT.  I modified it to produce Intel
mnemonics and use 32 bit pointers.  Terman has given his blessing to
redistribution.

To get a copy, send me the following items via U.S. Mail:

1.  A photocopy of your Unix source license.  This is needed because
the compiler is based on PCC, which is a licensed product.

2.  A 600 foot or longer mag tape.  Specify if you want 800 bpi,
otherwise you will get 1600.

3.  A self-addressed, stamped envelope big enough and with enough
postage to accept no. 2 above.

Allow a couple of weeks for delivery.  I'll have to gather up the
sources and write enough documentation that you can compile it.  My
phone number and address:

	Jim Rees
	Computer Science Department, FR-35
	University of Washington
	Seattle, Washington 98195

	(206) 545-0912

	...!decvax!microsoft!uw-beaver!jim
	...!ucbvax!lbl-unix!uw-beaver!jim
	Jim@Washington		(Arpanet)

stevens (12/24/82)

Does anyone have any information/comments on the "C86" C compiler sold
by Computer Innovations, Inc.?  I am especially interested in hearing
from people who have used the IBM PC version.

Please mail replies to me, not to the net.

					Scott Stevens
					American Bell (well, after 1/1/83) Indy
					inuxd!stevens