knudsen@cbnewsd.att.com (michael.j.knudsen) (05/23/91)
I'd like some advice on choosing between the many C compilers available for MSDOS systems. Before we get into good old religious flame wars, let me say something about what I want it for: I'm porting a large C program, which I've already written and debugged, from a 68000 and a 6809 system (running OS-9). There are about two dozen source.c files and a dozen header.h files, plus a makefile. The 68000 executable is over 100K. This program is totally graphics oriented, with its own windows, and uses both the mouse and the keyboard, plus some extra hardware, so I need good libraries for that sort of stuff. I can't use any "toy" C systems (Quick C?) or need any tutorials. Do I need Microsoft C, or can Borland's Turbo C handle this? What other brands should I consider? I don't expect to write a lot of code from scratch, but will have to do some heavy editing in the system-dependent areas. Also I've learned the hard way that "ports" dont' just come up and run the first time, so I don't mind paying for fancy debugging tools a la Turbo, *if* they can be run alongside my own grafix. Also I can never remember what .c file some function is in, so good browsing tools would be nice. I have a good Emacs editor so I don't care about the built-in editor, tho I hear that Turbo forces you to use their Wordstar-like editor (I could live with that). With Turbo C++ under $100 (?), it's tempting, but should I pay extra for Microsoft C? If I go Turbo, should I shell out extra for their "Professional" version? It must run on a Compaq II '286 with 640K and a 20 Meg HD (or should I look for another computer, sheesh!?!) All followups or email replies appreciated. Thanks, mike k -- "What America needs is A Thousand Points When Lit..." knudsen@iceland.att.com
ian@rathe.cs.umn.edu (Ian Hogg) (05/24/91)
In article <1991May23.204633.1711@cbnewsd.att.com> knudsen@cbnewsd.att.com (michael.j.knudsen) writes: >Thanks for the many replies so far about choosing a C compiler. > >Borland seems to off the following: > >Turbo C -- outdated, hard to find anymore, command-line only >Turbo C++ -- C++, window interface, still keyboard only, no mouse routines I picked up some mouse routines for Turbo C that I use for TC++ with no problem. I'm not sure exactly what you mean by keyboard only though. I use a mouse in IDE. >Turbo C++ Professional -- does Windows, mouse support, great debugger This is obsolete and it doesn't do windows. >Borland C++ 2.0 -- even more and better (?) see below. > This a the successor to TC++ Professional. It provides window support mostly for your applications. The IDE is not windows based. I won't say more until after I pick BC++ today. >From the last posting (not quoted), I get the idea that the last >two items are really the same, ie, "Professional" implies "not Turbo" >so it's just called "Borland." Is that right? Better to look >stupid here than in the store (?) > >Also Professional is going to cost close to $300 (well, that's >still less than I paid for the used Compaq 286 :-) >Wonder if I can even find it at Babbage or Egghead -- they seem to >have lots of Turbo C++ around. Stay clear of Egghead. They are selling TC++ (Not BC++) for about $170 here in Mpls, Software Etc it is around $85-90. > >Is there an upgrade option from Turbo C++ to Professional? Wrong newsgroup for this but here I go anyways. Borland has in my opinion incredible discounts for students. At the Univ of Minn, TC++ is $50 and BC++ is $99. I got TC++ for Christmas and am buying BC++ today. I bought TC++ retail for $99. Since the TC++ to BC++ upgrade is the same price as purchasing BC++ outright I'm doing that. What does this mean? I'll sell my TC++ to anyone for $40 (you pay shipping and handling). I did send in the registration card. Assuming that it isn't transferable, when I get my upgrade notice I will send it in for you. That means you will be able to buy BC++ for $140. If the registration is transferable, I will do so. >-- >"What America needs is A Thousand Points When Lit..." > > knudsen@iceland.att.com -- Ian Hogg email: rathe!ian@cs.umn.edu ...!umn-cs!rathe!ian Rathe, Inc ianhogg@cs.umn.edu 366 Jackson Street phone: (612) 225-1401