************************************************************************ Welcome to Irie Pascal 1.01 for OS/2 ************************************************************************ The latest information and releases of Irie Pascal are available at the Irie Tools web site at http://www.irietools.com Changes in version 1.01: ------------------------ ** list bug (Deleting the first element). In version 1.00 if the first element in a list was deleted then if any elements were inserted afterwards then the remaining elements in the list would be lost. This bug has been fixed in version 1.01. ** sleep bug The compiler was generating incorrect code for the built-in "sleep" procedure. This bug has been fixed in version 1.01. ** lexer bug If the first non-whitespace character in the source file was undefined (i.e. not one of characters defined by Pascal) the compiler would attempt to dereference a null pointer. This bug has been fixed in version 1.01. ** Relaxed rules for the SHR and SHL operators The right operand of the SHR and SHL operators can now be zero. ** Added Borland and Microsoft compatible messages The "-mb" and "-mm" compiler options have been added, and cause the compiler to generate messages in the same format used by Borland and Microsoft compilers. These compiler options were added to make it easier to use Irie Pascal with third-party editors and IDE's which know how to process Borland and Microsoft compiler messages. See "user.txt" for more details. ** Added more info to compiler messages Where possible the compiler now displays the subject of the message. For example the message "Variable is never used" has been changed to "Variable 'x' is never used" (where 'x' is the name of the particular variable which is never used). ** nc compiler option The name of the compiler option that controls support for nested comments was changed from "nc" to "c" in version 1.00 but the help screen printed by "ipc ?" did not reflect this change. In version 1.01 the compiler option was changed back to "nc" since "c" is reserved to control a compile-only mode which may be implemented in the future. ** Programs compiled by the evaluation version now expire the day after they are compiled (instead of seven days after). This change is intended to encourage more people to register. *************************** Please make sure that you have the following files: Documentation: -------------- readme.txt - This file user.txt - The Irie Pascal User's Guide progref.txt - The Irie Pascal Programmer's Reference Manual orderus.txt - The Order Form for US dollar Registrations orderca.txt - The Order Form for Canadian dollar Registrations orderuk.txt - The Order Form for UK pound Registrations shareware.txt - Describes the shareware concept (derived from documentation produced by the Association of Shareware Professionals (ASP)). NOTE: I am not a member of this association. Programs: --------- ipc.exe - Irie Pascal Compiler for OS/2 ivm.exe - Irie Virtual Machine Interpreter for OS/2 upgrade.ivm - Irie Upgrade Utility Sample programs: ---------------- samples.zip - ZIP archive of sample programs The sample programs are provided mostly to help you veryify that Irie Pascal has been installed correctly. You may however find a few of the sample programs like calc.pas and ascii.pas useful. Irie Pascal consists of a compiler (called the Irie Pascal Compiler) and an interpreter (called the Irie Virtual Machine Interpreter). The compiler translates Pascal programs into Irie Virtual Machine executables (IVM executables). IVM executables can not be directly executed but instead must be executed by the interpreter. Most other compilers generate "native-code" executables (i.e. executables which can be directly executed on a single computer platform but usually can not be executed at all on any other computer platform). The main advantage of IVM executables is that unlike "native-code" executables, IVM executables can be run on any computer platform on which the interpreter exists. Currently the interpreter exists on five computer platforms: 1) Windows (i.e. Win95/98/NT) 2) DOS 3) Linux 4) OS/2 5) FreeBSD Another advantage to IVM executables is that they tend to be much smaller than their "native-code" equivalents. I have found that IVM executables tend to be roughly 20 times smaller than equivalent "native-code" executables. The main disadvantage to IVM executables is speed or rather the lack of it. This is because IVM executables are not directly executed, but are executed by the Interpreter. I have found that IVM executables tend to run roughly 50 times slower than equivalent "native-code" executables. While there are many kinds of programs where this speed is perfectly acceptable, there are others where this is just too slow. I expect Irie Pascal to be used mainly to create utility programs, and programs for learning purposes (if you are learning Pascal you don't need your test programs to be the fastest possible, you probably need good compile-time and run-time diagnostics more). You should be aware that although I claim Irie Pascal complies with ISO/IEC 7185 Level 0 (since it does according to my tests) it has not been formally certified by an external body. Irie Pascal is shareware and as such there is an evaluation version and a registered version. The evaluation version of Irie Pascal is provided at no charge, for the purposes of evaluating Irie Pascal and deciding whether to continue using it. Feel free to share the evaluation version with your friends, but do not give it away altered or as part of another system. You are not authorized to share the registered version. The essence of "user-supported" software is to provide personal computer users with quality software without high prices, and yet to provide an incentive for programmers to continue to develop new products. If you find the evaluation version of Irie Pascal useful and find that you are using it and continue to use it after a reasonable trial period, you must register it (See "How to Register"). The evaluation and registered versions of Irie Pascal are functionally identical except for two differences. The first difference is that the registered version uses an improved code generation technique to generate smaller executables. The second difference is that executables compiled by the evaluation version expire the day after they are compiled, while executables compiled by the registered version never expire. These differences are intended to encourage users of the evaluation version to pay the registration fee and receive a copy of the registered version. NOTE: Irie Pascal does not prevent users of the evaluation version from recompiling expired programs as many times as they wish to keep them running indefinitely. --------------- How To Register --------------- To register Irie Pascal complete the appropriate order form, and mail it in along with a check or money order for the registration fee. If you wish to pay the registration fee in US dollars then use the order form in "orderus.txt". If you wish to pay the registration fee in Canadian dollars then use the order form in "orderca.txt". If you wish to pay the registration fee in British pounds then use the order form in "orderuk.txt". If you include an email address then you will receive an email notification when you order is shipped. I respect the privacy of my customers and will NEVER sell or otherwise distribute any information you give me to anyone without your consent. The check or money order should be made out to "Stuart King" and sent to Stuart King MB #247 221 S. State Road 7 Ft. Lauderdale, Fl 33317 U.S.A. Please do not send cash. All registered users of Irie Pascal will receive a copy of the latest registered version on 3 1/2" disks, so you will need a 3 1/2" floppy drive to install Irie Pascal. Registered users of Irie Pascal for OS/2 are entitled to receive free (regular shipping and handling charges may apply) upgrades to all registered versions of Irie Pascal for OS/2 released after they register. Registered users of Irie Pascal for OS/2 may use the Irie Upgrade Utility to upgrade to the latest registered version at any time. Whenever a new registered version of Irie Pascal for OS/2 is released a special upgrade file will be placed on the IrieTools Website. Registered users may download this upgrade file without charge and perform the upgrade (see the User's Manual "user.txt" for more information on using the Irie Upgrade Utility). Registered users may also receive upgrades by mail. To receive upgrades by mail, fill out the appropriate order form and mail in the completed order form along with a check of money order for the shipping and handling fee to the address above. Educational institutions should enquire about the educational discount. Commercial users of Irie Pascal must register and pay for their copies of the Software within 30 days of first use or their license is withdrawn. Site-License arrangements may be made by contacting the author. Anyone distributing Irie Pascal for any kind of remuneration must first contact the author. --------------------------- Minimum system requirements --------------------------- - OS/2 2.0 or later - 1 MB disk space ---------------------- Installing Irie Pascal ---------------------- Irie Pascal for OS/2 is distributed as a zip file "ipo-101.zip". NOTE: Installing Irie Pascal requires manual modifications to your config.sys. If you have never modified your config.sys or if you uncomfortable doing so then have someone who has done this before assist you. If you decide to modify your config.sys remember to use a text editor and not a word processor. You may wish to make a backup copy of your config.sys before you begin making modifications to help you recover from mistakes. ---------------------------- Installing from the zip file ---------------------------- The recommended installation procedure is as follows: A) Create a directory (I suggest "C:\IRIE") to store Irie Pascal. B) Copy the zip file into this directory. C) Use your unzip utility to extract the files. D) Add the directory created in A) to the path (i.e. edit your config.sys). E) Create a directory to store the sample pascal programs (I suggest "C:\IRIE\SAMPLES"). F) Copy the zip file containing the samples "samples.zip" in to the directory you just created. G) Unzip the sample files. H) Reboot your computer. ------------------------ Uninstalling Irie Pascal ------------------------ Irie Pascal does not make any behind the scenes modifications to your system. Irie Pascal does not modify any system files or install files on you hard disk so uninstalling is very simple. Just delete the directory, you created to store Irie Pascal, and remove it from the path. --------------- Product support --------------- I am very interested in all your comments about Irie Pascal, but most especially in your comments about its usefulness, any problems you encounter installing or using Irie Pascal, and any changes you would like to see. The latest information and updates of Irie Pascal are available at the Irie Tools web site at http://www.irietools.com You can also contact me directly with your technical support questions. --------------------- Contacting the author --------------------- For the quickest response contact me by e-mail at support@irietools.com If you prefer you can contact me by regular mail (but this takes longer) at: Stuart King MB #247 221 S. State Road 7 Ft. Lauderdale, Fl 33317 U.S.A.