harbison@bert.pinecreek.com (03/05/91)
From: Shaun Wetzstein <NU158739%NDSUVM1.BITNET@cunyvm.cuny.edu> Subject: wanted Modula-3 for (MSDOS)? Is it too early or does any one know of a M3 compiler for the PC running MS/PC-DOS? Shaun I've been concerned about the lack of a Modula-3 implementation for MSDOS for some time, and I've investigated some approaches to getting one. I'll use the opportunity of Shaun Wetzstein's question to report what I know. The short answer is: No, there aren't any yet. I do know of one or two people who have expressed an intent to port SRC Modula-3 to the PC. I don't know if they have started or how much progress they have made. I don't know if they want their identities released, so I won't name them. A port of SRC Modula-3 to the PC is not straightforward, due to the dependencies on long file names, BSD-style symbolic links, and the generally large size of the implementation. I think the approach would be to first create a UNIX-to-PC cross compiler out of SRC Modula-3, use it to generate a C version of the system, and then try to build it on the PC with a C compiler that can handle large applications. I'm sure there are some eager hackers out there who would like to give it a try. Good for you! If you get it done, I'll certainly publicize it for you. Unfortunately, this will not get you a Modula-3 implementation that is competitive with the very good Pascal, C++, and Modula-2 environments for the PC. That's what I really want to have. I have approached some of the companies that have existing PC environments for other languages, and have discussed licensing and marketing proposals that would turn an existing integrated environment for language X (say, Modula-2 or Pascal with objects) into an integrated Modula-3 environment. (The work could be done either by the company or by a third party.) Preliminary responses were generally positive, with licensing/development fees in the $100K-500K range. This may be a real opportunity for an entrepreneur, but so far I don't believe anyone is pursuing it. [Contact me if you're interested...] I have heard rumors that a company is proceding on this path for a Macintosh implementation of Modula-3. I don't have any more information. An easier and still valuable project would be a port of SRC Modula-3 to one of the PC UNIX environments--SCO, Interactive, Xenix. If you're equipped to do that, go for it! [Send me a note and I'll publicize it...] Sam Harbison; harbison@bert.pinecreek.com Pine Creek Software, Pgh, PA. +1 412 681 9811