🚀 go-pugleaf

damian@abacus.demon.co.uk (Damian Hamill) writes:


>What would you say were the main advantages of using gcc in preference to
>a compiler supplied by a computer manufacturer ?

* You can use the same compiler for different architectures.
  This is usually a lot easier than stuffing around with a whole
  bunch of different compilers.

* GNU C can give you very good warnings, many of which are not
  provided by competing compilers.  For example, gcc warns about
  calls to printf() and scanf() for which the types of the arguments
  doesn't match the format string.
  (Unfortunately, the same isn't true of GNU C++ yet.)

* gcc usually generates pretty good code.
  (This varies from architecture to achitecture, though, so
  if efficiency is your prime goal, then it pays to actually
  compare with other compilers.)

* GNU C is generally very reliable.
  (Unfortunately, the same isn't true of GNU C++ yet.)

* You get source code with gcc.

* gcc is cheaper than other compilers.
  You don't have any problems with licence managers.

* You can get very good free support on the net.
  (For the last bug report I sent, I got a fix within 24 hours -
  on a Sunday!)

* By using gcc, you encourage free software.

-- 
Fergus Henderson        |   "People who brook no compromise in programming
                        |   languages should program in lambda calculus or
fjh@munta.cs.mu.OZ.AU   |   machine language, depending." --Andrew Koenig.