Subject: Math libraries
Date: Wed, 1 Jun 94 10:32:45 +0200
From: VICTOR@afrodita.fcu.um.es

Hi,

I have seen a lot ot talk lately about the math libraries replacement.
Let's get a few things fixed:

- The libraries are actually faster than Commodore's. If you have a 68040,
  the improvement is even bigger.

- Quite obviously, only programs which use the OS libraries will take
  advantage of this. The original libs were so badly written that few
  compilers make programs which depend on them. When you use, say, SAS C
  to compile a FP program, you have to explicitly require it to use
  the OS libs; instead it'll use inline code.

- Imagine.FP and the vast majority of 3D rendering programs use inline
  code to to their math calculations. They can even run without 'any'
  libs.

- MAYBE the integer version of some of these progs is using the OS libs.
  I have not tested it. If that's the case, any such program will benefit
  from the library change. Whether the "improved" int version will be
  better than the FP one, I don't know; but here's a good guess: if you 
  have a 040 AND a FP program uses 68040.library, there's a good chance
  that its integer version will run faster than it, provided that:
  * The integer version USES the libs.
  * The integer version HEAVILY USES the libs.
  * er... anybody to check this out?

Just my guesses.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Disclaimer: I am not the owner of this account (VICTOR@afrodita.fcu.um.es).
            Opinions expressed are only those of mine, of course.


        |||                                     Ruben Martinez
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