🚀 go-pugleaf

{Sacrifices to the mythical line eater bug}

    I just finished Beta testing a new C compiler for the Mac.  The 
DeSmet/Ouye C development system for the Macintosh.  

    My two line review is that it is one of the best bargins for the 
Macintosh.  A complete C development system, for only $150, about half the
cost of comparable packages.

    The DeSmet/Ouye C compiler, is an enhanced version of their very 
successful C compiler for the IBM PC.  They spent a lot of time, making it
Mac-like, although it has a definite Unix/MS-DOS flavor to it.

    The package consists of the following programs:

    o   C-Compiler: Full K&R implementation with floating point support. 

        o     Version 7 based C
        o    1 Pass
        o    Full support for the Mac toolbox

    o   Binder/Linker.  Fast,standard options

    o   Assembler    (Didn't use, looks fairly standard)

    o   Librarian (allows the creation of code Libraries)

    o   Shell:  Unix like Shell.  Features include
    
        o    Shell Scripts
        o    History support (I like history)
        o    Allows the setting of paths and default volumes
        o    Make facility
        o    Most CSH like programming capabilities

    o   See - a combination Mouse, and cursor based text editor, 

        o    Based on Intel's very popular AEDIT
            (Everyone at Intel really likes this editor.  Enough to
             port it to the VAX, IBM PC, Xenix systems, and now the Mac)    
            
        o   Two methods of Cursor control  
            o    Use the mouse
            o    WordStar control characters (i.e. Command {asdfgxcwe})
        
        o    Cut and Paste with either the mouse or the cursor controls
        o    Menu based
        o    Macro's
        o    Fast
    
    o   Debugger: small window based debugger with disassembler, patching, etc.

    o   Video Game - MacBugs shoot up Lisas, Macs, and other PCs

    o   RAMDISK program

    o   Misc. Utilites printing, etc.

    o   Example programs

    o   400 page manual
    
        o    Surprisingly well written for a couple of engineers.

    I have also used the Manx compiler for the Mac fairly extensively, and I
think this packages is as good at only 1/3 the cost. 

SPEED:
    
    I have not run benchmarks on it, but Mike Ouye says that he ran the 
benchmarks from the article comparing 5 Mac Compilers and his is quite 
comparable.

    My experience is that the entire Compile, link process is about 20% faster
than the Manx compiler, with everything, but source, in RAM DISK

    My major experience with both compilers is bring up a version of Missile
Command for the Mac (someday I will put it in the public domain).  My missile 
command game (SDI 2000 as I call it, (SDI is  the offical name for Reagan's 
StarWars ) seems be slightly faster with the DeSmet/Ouye compiler.
    
HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS 

    The package is designed to run on a Single drive 128K Mac.  I have run it 
with a 512K 1 drive machine + RAMDISK without having a huge amount of 
problems.  (I have since broken down a gotten a second disk drive, God what
a difference.)

    I think that you need either a 512K machine or an external drive, to really
use this package, a Hard disk would be ideal.

AVAILABILITY:
    
    The latest Beta version two weeks ago I have recieved is virtually bug 
free.  The major problem is getting access to a    Laser printer to print out 
the manual, evidently Apple has been slow on delivering one to C-Ware.  

    It should be available by May 15 from 
    C Ware Corporation
    P.O Box C
    Sunnyvale, CA. 94087
    Price:    $150.00

Disclaimer

    I have no financial interest in C-Ware, or this product.  However, I am a 
friend of Mike Ouye.  I want to see this thing sell, because Mark DeSmet has
promised to port his C source-level debugger to the Mac, if the sales
volumes justify it. 
-- 
Clif Purkiser, Intel, Santa Clara, Ca.
HIGH PERFORMANCE MICROPROCESSORS
{pur-ee,hplabs,amd,scgvaxd,dual,idi,omsvax}!intelca!clif
	
{standard disclaimer about how these views are mine and may not reflect
the views of Intel, my boss , or USNET goes here. }