DeSmet C -- NOT a toy

[nather at utastro.UUCP]

[]
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A recent note stated:

>On the C for PC debate: the DeSmet compiler refuses to compile
>functions that exceed a certain size, and it's not that big a size;
>apparently this problem is there to stay, therefore I would classify
>this compiler as  a toy basically. It is cheap.

My experience contradicts this. I am communicating with the originator of
the note; I will see if the version of DeSmet C is older than mine, if
the limitation occurs with my version, etc. I have compiled many large
applications with DeSmet C, without any difficulties. I would insist that
DeSmet C is definitely not a toy, it is a completely useable production
compiler. I am extremely concerned about that posting, inasmuch as accusing
a VERY cheap compiler ($160 with screen editor, library manager,
assembler, symbolic debugger, and handfuls of little junk) of being a
toy could destroy the company.

More to follow.

					Bennett Todd
					...{decvax,ihnp4,akgua}!mcnc!ecsvax!bet
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I am using DeSmet C for production programming and have found no serious
limitations with either the compiler or the support software that comes with
it.  Data space is limited to 65KB -- it uses the "small model" for the
8086 -- but that is true of many compilers sold at many times the price.
It compiles fast and the code runs fast.  It is not free of problems --
code ported from Unix systems often requires modification to run properly --
but that seems more a limitation of the PC-DOS file system than DeSmet's
package.  You get a *lot* of useful code for $109 (the price without the
new debugger) and it *works*.

It is not a toy.



-- 

                                       Ed Nather
                                       ihnp4!{ut-sally,kpno}!utastro!nather
                                       Astronomy Dept., U. of Texas, Austin