[comp.unix.amiga] What commercial end-user applications are exist NOW for the A300

tbissett@nstar.rn.com (Travis Bissett) (04/02/91)

zebr360@ut-emx.uucp (Jerry Heyman) writes:

> Not true.  I talked to Comeau on Friday (concerning availability of their
> C++ for IBM RISC System/6000) and asked about the Amiga port.  They said that
> it was available for BOTH AmigaDos and A3000UX.  The price they quoted me
> was $250 (US), with the caveat that you need the Lattice Compiler for the
> AmigaDos version.
> 
> Anyone want to speculate as to the requirement of the Lattice/SAS C compiler
> requirement?
> 

My guess is that Comeau found it expedient to use a pre-existing set of 
library and header files -- e.g. the Lattice libraries. I base this guess on 
a case of parallel evolution in the Xenix world, where you STILL need the 
SCO Software Development System even if you are using Gnu CC or C++, because 
the libraries and includes just haven't been Gnu-ified yet.

Sound like a reasonable hypothesis?

--
Travis Bissett                       NSTAR conferencing site 219-289-0287
internet: tbissett@nstar.rn.com              1300 newsgroups - 8 inbound lines
uucp: ..!uunet!nstar.rn.com!tbissett            99 file areas - 4300 megabytes
---  backbone news & mail feeds available - contact larry@nstar.rn.com  ---

ckp@grebyn.com (Checkpoint Technologies) (04/03/91)

Everybody writes:
> [ ... stuff about C++ ... ]

Considering the subject line, I must conclude that the only software
that can be run on the Amiga 3000UX is: what's included, what you write,
what's freely available in source form, and exactly 1 (one) commercial
offering, Comeau C++.

Come on - is there really nothing else???
-- 
First comes the logo: C H E C K P O I N T  T E C H N O L O G I E S      / /  
                                                ckp@grebyn.com      \\ / /    
Then, the disclaimer:  All expressed opinions are, indeed, opinions. \  / o
Now for the witty part:    I'm pink, therefore, I'm spam!             \/

jac@gandalf.llnl.gov (James A. Crotinger) (04/05/91)

tbissett@nstar.rn.com (Travis Bissett) writes:

> zebr360@ut-emx.uucp (Jerry Heyman) writes:
> > Anyone want to speculate as to the requirement of the Lattice/SAS C compiler
> > requirement?
> > 

> My guess is that Comeau found it expedient to use a pre-existing set of 
> library and header files -- e.g. the Lattice libraries.

> Sound like a reasonable hypothesis?

  Comeau's C++ product is a CFRONT port (so is Lattice's, but Comeau's
is much newer [2.1 vs 1.2]). It translates C++ code to C. You still
need a C compiler to do the final phase. I can only speculate as to
why they require SAS C: Possibly because SAS C has already been tested
as a backend to an earlier version of CFRONT. CFRONT can produce some
gawd-awful C code and I've seen many C compilers choke when trying to
compile it.

  Does anyone know if the arrival of Comeau C++ for AmigaDOS has derailed
SAS's plan to market a new version of their C++ product? They had been
planning to release a native C++ compiler (one which compiled directly
to machine code) sometime in '91. 

  Jim
--
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
James A. Crotinger     Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab // The above views 
jac@moonshine.llnl.gov P.O. Box 808;  L-630    \\ // are mine and are not 
(415) 422-0259         Livermore CA  94550      \\/ necessarily those of LLNL

tbissett@nstar.rn.com (Travis Bissett) (04/05/91)

jac@gandalf.llnl.gov (James A. Crotinger) writes:

> 
>   Comeau's C++ product is a CFRONT port (so is Lattice's, but Comeau's
> is much newer [2.1 vs 1.2]). It translates C++ code to C. You still
> need a C compiler to do the final phase. I can only speculate as to
> why they require SAS C: Possibly because SAS C has already been tested
> as a backend to an earlier version of CFRONT. CFRONT can produce some
> gawd-awful C code and I've seen many C compilers choke when trying to
> compile it.
> 

Well, I guess live and learn. I like your explanation better than mine ;-)

>   Does anyone know if the arrival of Comeau C++ for AmigaDOS has derailed
> SAS's plan to market a new version of their C++ product? They had been
> planning to release a native C++ compiler (one which compiled directly
> to machine code) sometime in '91. 
> 

We in our Amiga Group have been wondering if SAS would drop all C marketing 
efforts for the Amiga since they apparently have foresaken MS-DOS. And, 
someone spread a rumor that Borland "Vaporware" International was serious 
about offering their C++ to Amiganoids.  Any comments?


--
Travis Bissett                       NSTAR conferencing site 219-289-0287
internet: tbissett@nstar.rn.com              1300 newsgroups - 8 inbound lines
uucp: ..!uunet!nstar.rn.com!tbissett            99 file areas - 4300 megabytes
---  backbone news & mail feeds available - contact larry@nstar.rn.com  ---

jesup@cbmvax.commodore.com (Randell Jesup) (04/06/91)

In article <ocRwZ1w161w@nstar.rn.com> tbissett@nstar.rn.com (Travis Bissett) writes:
>jac@gandalf.llnl.gov (James A. Crotinger) writes:
>>   Does anyone know if the arrival of Comeau C++ for AmigaDOS has derailed
>> SAS's plan to market a new version of their C++ product? They had been
>> planning to release a native C++ compiler (one which compiled directly
>> to machine code) sometime in '91. 
>> 
>
>We in our Amiga Group have been wondering if SAS would drop all C marketing 
>efforts for the Amiga since they apparently have foresaken MS-DOS. And, 
>someone spread a rumor that Borland "Vaporware" International was serious 
>about offering their C++ to Amiganoids.  Any comments?

	I doubt it.  When they spun off Lattice again (they bought it a few
years ago, and it had turned unprofitable in the PC market), the one
thing they decided to take in-house was the Amiga C compiler.  This should 
indicate something about their interest and profitability in the market.
Also, they needed a compiler group anyways since the main reason for having
the group is to support the same version of C on all the different machines
they produce the SAS tools for.  The Amiga stuff is gravy (some of the work
they do is amiga-specific, but some applies to all their C versions (like
global optimization), and some applies to all their 680x0 versions (like
back-end optimizations)).

-- 
Randell Jesup, Keeper of AmigaDos, Commodore Engineering.
{uunet|rutgers}!cbmvax!jesup, jesup@cbmvax.commodore.com  BIX: rjesup  
Disclaimer: Nothing I say is anything other than my personal opinion.
Thus spake the Master Ninjei: "To program a million-line operating system
is easy, to change a man's temperament is more difficult."
(From "The Zen of Programming")  ;-)

jac@gandalf.llnl.gov (James A. Crotinger) (04/06/91)

tbissett@nstar.rn.com (Travis Bissett) writes:

> We in our Amiga Group have been wondering if SAS would drop all C marketing 
> efforts for the Amiga since they apparently have foresaken MS-DOS. And, 
> someone spread a rumor that Borland "Vaporware" International was serious 
> about offering their C++ to Amiganoids.  Any comments?

  I haven't been on BIX for several months, but back when SAS took
over, John Toebes made it *very* clear that the Amiga line was alive
and well.  Indeed, the SAS team has been handling the Amiga
development for some time (since 4.1 I believe). Lattice was doing
things like marketing and support.

  Someone sent me email saying that SAS is still working on their
native code C++ environment. Wish I knew what their timescale is. 

  I wouldn't hold my breath on Borland. I believe that they have
announced a port to the Mac. But [hold them flame throwers] the Mac
market is a lot bigger. I don't think the Amiga market could support 3
C++ systems. [It hasn't provided much demand for a single system so
far.]

  Jim
--
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
James A. Crotinger     Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab // The above views 
jac@moonshine.llnl.gov P.O. Box 808;  L-630    \\ // are mine and are not 
(415) 422-0259         Livermore CA  94550      \\/ necessarily those of LLNL

scotte@applix.com (Scott Evernden) (04/07/91)

In article <jac.670913629@sundance> jac@gandalf.llnl.gov (James A. Crotinger) writes:
>.. I don't think the Amiga market could support 3
>C++ systems. [It hasn't provided much demand for a single system so
>far.]

No, there isn't much demand for a brain-dead 1.1 cfront port that's shear
torture to install, manage, and use, you're right.  (Meanwhile, Borland C++
makes anything else look like a joke...)

-scott

dillon@overload.Berkeley.CA.US (Matthew Dillon) (04/08/91)

In article <jac.670913629@sundance> jac@gandalf.llnl.gov (James A. Crotinger) writes:
>tbissett@nstar.rn.com (Travis Bissett) writes:
>
>> We in our Amiga Group have been wondering if SAS would drop all C marketing
>> efforts for the Amiga since they apparently have foresaken MS-DOS. And,
>> someone spread a rumor that Borland "Vaporware" International was serious
>> about offering their C++ to Amiganoids.  Any comments?
>
>  I haven't been on BIX for several months, but back when SAS took
>over, John Toebes made it *very* clear that the Amiga line was alive

    SAS/C for the amiga is alive and kicking on BIX, there is little
    chance it will be going away.

>  Jim
>--
>-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>James A. Crotinger	Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab // The above views
>jac@moonshine.llnl.gov P.O. Box 808;  L-630	\\ // are mine and are not
>(415) 422-0259         Livermore CA  94550      \\/ necessarily those of LLNL

				    -Matt

--

    Matthew Dillon	    dillon@Overload.Berkeley.CA.US
    891 Regal Rd.	    uunet.uu.net!overload!dillon
    Berkeley, Ca. 94708
    USA

comeau@ditka.Chicago.COM (Greg Comeau) (04/09/91)

In article <jac.670913629@sundance> jac@gandalf.llnl.gov (James A. Crotinger) writes:
>tbissett@nstar.rn.com (Travis Bissett) writes:
>
>> We in our Amiga Group have been wondering if SAS would drop all C marketing 
>> efforts for the Amiga since they apparently have foresaken MS-DOS. And, 
>> someone spread a rumor that Borland "Vaporware" International was serious 
>> about offering their C++ to Amiganoids.  Any comments?

I have no more information on this matter than anybody else but I would
be overly shocked if Borland released an Amiga C++.  Companies like them
just don't work that way in general.

>  I haven't been on BIX for several months, but back when SAS took
>over, John Toebes made it *very* clear that the Amiga line was alive
>and well.  Indeed, the SAS team has been handling the Amiga

Lattice for the Amiga *is* still very alive and well.

>  Someone sent me email saying that SAS is still working on their
>native code C++ environment. Wish I knew what their timescale is. 

Their timescale appears to be floating for quite a while.  Best bet is
to go with what's out there until they can produce something.

>market is a lot bigger. I don't think the Amiga market could support 3
>C++ systems. [It hasn't provided much demand for a single system so far.]

I think it could support 3.  We're getting there.
-- 
	 Comeau Computing, 91-34 120th Street, Richmond Hill, NY, 11418
                            Producers of Comeau C++
          Here:attmail.com!csanta!comeau / BIX:comeau / CIS:72331,3421
                     Voice:718-945-0009 / Fax:718-441-2310

comeau@ditka.Chicago.COM (Greg Comeau) (04/09/91)

In article <20417@cbmvax.commodore.com> jesup@cbmvax.commodore.com (Randell Jesup) writes:
>In article <ocRwZ1w161w@nstar.rn.com> tbissett@nstar.rn.com (Travis Bissett) writes:
>>jac@gandalf.llnl.gov (James A. Crotinger) writes:
>>>   Does anyone know if the arrival of Comeau C++ for AmigaDOS has derailed
>>> SAS's plan to market a new version of their C++ product? They had been
>>> planning to release a native C++ compiler (one which compiled directly
>>> to machine code) sometime in '91. 
>	I doubt it.  When they spun off Lattice again (they bought it a few

I doubt it as well.  Just because our C++ has been release is no reason for
SAS to abandon theirs.  In fact, now that ours is released, they have every
reason to forge ahead.  Furthermore, since the product is being developed
at SAS for some other reasons, it would be wise for them to at least make an
attempt at marketing it.
-- 
	 Comeau Computing, 91-34 120th Street, Richmond Hill, NY, 11418
                            Producers of Comeau C++
          Here:attmail.com!csanta!comeau / BIX:comeau / CIS:72331,3421
                     Voice:718-945-0009 / Fax:718-441-2310

thad@public.BTR.COM (Thaddeus P. Floryan) (04/13/91)

In article <ocRwZ1w161w@nstar.rn.com> tbissett@nstar.rn.com (Travis Bissett) writes:
>[...]
>We in our Amiga Group have been wondering if SAS would drop all C marketing 
>efforts for the Amiga since they apparently have foresaken MS-DOS. And, 
>someone spread a rumor that Borland "Vaporware" International was serious 
>about offering their C++ to Amiganoids.  Any comments?

I have recently spoken with Shawn Gargan (yes, correct spelling) of SAS
regarding scheduling of talk(s) for BADGE and FAUG re: SAS/C and I'm left
with the definite impression they're gung-ho concerning the Amiga.

This year they're planning a USA-wide speaking tour of ALL User and Developer
Groups.

I have a verbal committment from Shawn they will visit the SF Bay Area and
present at both BADGE (Bay Area Amiga Developers' GroupE) and FAUG (First Amiga
Users' Group) this year; we're still working out the scheduling.

From the excitement I could detect in Shawn's voice over the telephone, SAS has
some "interesting" things concerning their Amiga products!

{ As an aside, I still don't have a(ny) speaker(s) for next week's BADGE
  meeting.  Email (address below) or call me at 415/961-5157 if you would
  like to discuss your current Amiga SVR4 or AmigaDOS work at the meeting. }

Thad Floryan [ thad@btr.com (OR) {decwrl, mips, fernwood}!btr!thad ]