[comp.sys.ibm.pc.programmer] 386-Specific Compilers, DOS extenders

dhinds@portia.Stanford.EDU (David Hinds) (03/26/90)

    From what I can tell, all the DOS C compilers that generate 386-specific
code require a DOS extender, meaning lots of $$.  Are there any exceptions -
either compilers that can generate code to do the protected mode switches
themselves, or compilers that can generate real-mode 386 code?  I know the
real-mode code would be cluttered up with all sorts of prefixes, but it should
still be faster and smaller than doing the same thing with 8088 instructions.
    On a related note, Desqview claims to be compatible with the VCPI
specification for DOS extenders.  Does this mean that Desqview IS a DOS
extender, for all practical purposes?  For example, can I compile a program
for the Phar Lap DOS extender stuff, and just run it under Desqview?  What
extra functionality do the DOS extenders provide?

 -David Hinds
  dhinds@popserver.stanford.edu

ralf@b.gp.cs.cmu.edu (Ralf Brown) (03/26/90)

In article <10518@portia.Stanford.EDU> dhinds@portia.Stanford.EDU (David Hinds) writes:
}    On a related note, Desqview claims to be compatible with the VCPI
}specification for DOS extenders.  Does this mean that Desqview IS a DOS
}extender, for all practical purposes?  For example, can I compile a program
}for the Phar Lap DOS extender stuff, and just run it under Desqview? 

No, VCPI compatibility means DESQview will peacefully coexist with any program
written using a VCPI-compatible DOS extender.  If you compile a program for
the Phar Lap DOS extender, you'll still need the Phar Lap extender.
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