Collection of Tools & Utilities/Collection of Tools and Utilities.iso/c/gencsrc.zip/COMPILER.DOC

Text File | 1987-11-21 | 33KB | 880 lines

Coronado Enterprises C TUTOR                Nov 21, 1987

COMPILER.DOC file

Notes on a few C compilers.

     It is assumed that you have a C compiler and that you have
somehow learned to use it.  Some helping hints are given below
for some of the more popular compilers and even if your partic-
ular compiler is not listed, some of the hints given for other
compilers may help you with yours.  Some standards do tend to
exist within compilers and compiler writers tend to do things
basically the same way.  If notes are not given below about your
compiler, we at Coronado Enterprises will be unable to help.  We
have listed notes on all of the compilers we have available for
evaluation or use.  These notes are not intended to be exhaustive
or used as the basis for a final decision on your part to select
a given compiler.  Exhaustive notes and evaluations are given
regularly in computer publications.  If you are undecided as to
which compiler you should use, you are directed to these.

******************************************************************

The following compilers have been tested on all files in chapters
1 through 13 and the results are noted.


1. Borland Turbo C - Version 1.00  This compiler may be the best
      available at the price.  It is certainly worth the price to
      purchase it for learning the language.  It is extremely flex-
      ible and easy to use once it is set up properly on your com-
      puter.  Follow the notes below to set it up since the users
      guide is extremely confusing concerning setup.

2. Computer Innovations C86 compiler version 2.30J
      This is a very large but capable compiler that you should
      have a hard disk to use.  It is about two years old at this
      writing but a newer version should be available with even
      more capability.

3. Ecosoft C compiler - ver 3.14    This compiler sells for only
      $59.95 and is as complete a compiler as you can find if you
      only need a small memory model.  Their small model uses 64K
      for program and another 64K for data, so the limitation is
      not very severe, and this compiler should meet nearly all
      of your needs.

4. Lattice C compiler - version 3.00      This is a very capable
      compiler that still has the ability to be run conveniently
      with only two floppy disks.  If you want a high end compiler
      to use on a dual floppy machine, this is probably your best
      choice.  The documentation is nearly worthless, and you will
      be left with a mess trying to get it set up until you gain
      some experience programming in C.

5. Mark Williams Let's C Version 3.0.2  This is a relatively
      inexpensive compiler that makes only a small memory model,
      but is certainly adequate for learning to program in C.
      This version is rather old and has been updated, but this
      is the only copy available for test and evaluation at this
      time.

6. Microsoft C compiler - version 3.0
7. Microsoft C compiler - version 4.0
8. Microsoft C compiler - version 5.0  These three compilers are
      absolutely top of the line compilers and would make an
      excellent choice if you will be engaged in very serious
      programming.  The only difference in the three are the
      number of features available, but any of them would be
      excellent for use in learning to program in C.  Version
      4.0 and 5.0 have codeview available and version 5.0 allows
      the "modern" method of function definitions.  All three
      compile to very fast, compact code but any of the three
      should be used only with a hard disk, since floppy disk
      use would require much disk swapping.

9. Microsoft Quick-C - version 1.00   This is an excellent com-
      piler that should do everything you ever need to do short
      of a full commercial development project.  It is extrememly
      fast compiling and running, and the only thing that seems
      to be missing is the optimization that the Optimizing C
      compiler does.  It is very easy to use and is well worth
      the price.

10. Mix C Compiler ver 1.0.0  Mix has been advertising a newer
      version of this compiler for only $19.95 and although it
      has some limitations, it would be excellent for learning
      to program in C.

************** Borland Turbo C - version 1.00 **********************
   Borland  International
   4585 Scotts Valley Drive
   Scotts  Valley, CA 95066

Due to the ease of use of the Integrated Environment version of
Turbo C, It will be used exclusively by this tutorial.  You can
use the Command Line version of Turbo C with this tutorial, but
all notes in the tutorial will describe use of the Integrated
Environment version.

All of the files in the Coronado Enterprises Turbo C tutorial are
designed to work with the Turbo C compiler with all options left
in the default mode (ie - the way the compiler comes from the
factory), and any changes may affect the way some of the example
programs work.



*** Turbo C ****** Suggested Hard Disk Setup *********************
The Turbo C User's Guide has complete instructions describing
how to set up your system for proper use.  Following the direc-
tions given will result in the following directory setup if you
are using a hard disk.  Some of the files have been omitted in
this suggested setup to reduce the clutter in the TURBOC directory.
This will reduce the confusion over extra files as you work your
way through the tutorials.


   Turbo C disk 1 - INTEGRATED DEVELOPMENT ENV.
   Turbo C disk 2 - COMMAND LINE/UTILITIES
   Turbo C disk 3 - HEADER FILES/LIBRARIES/EXAMPLES
   Turbo C disk 4 - LIBRARIES/EXAMPLES

C:\TURBOC\
    TC.EXE                  /* From Turbo C disk 1              */
    TCCONFIG.TC             /* You make this file - See below   */
    TCHELP.TCH              /* From Turbo C disk 1              */
    *.*                     /* From Turbo C Tutor SOURCE disk   */

C:\TURBOC\INCLUDE\
    *.H                     /* From Turbo C disk 3              */

C:\TURBOC\INCLUDE\SYS\
    STAT.H                  /* From Turbo C disk 3 \SYS\ subdir.*/

C:\TURBOC\LIB\
    *.OBJ                   /* From Turbo C disk 3              */
    *.LIB                   /* From Turbo C disk 3              */
    *.OBJ                   /* From Turbo C disk 4 - optional   */
    *.LIB                   /* From Turbo C disk 4 - optional   */

The *.OBJ and *.LIB files from disk 4 are needed only if you wish
to use additional memory models.  You only need the "Small" memory
model to run all of the programs included in the Coronado Enter-
prises C tutorial.

After creating the subdirectories listed above and loading them
with the files listed, change to the TURBOC directory and create
the TCCONFIG.TC file by following these instructions (note that
the instructions are given on page 16 of the Turbo C User's guide
but they are somewhat cryptic for the beginner).

1.   TC<return>                  This loads the TURBO-C compiler
2.   O                           Selects "Options"
3.   E                           Selects "Environment"
4.   I                           Selects "Include directories"
5.   \TURBOC\INCLUDE<return>     Sets directory for include files
6.   L                           Selects "Library directory"
7.   \TURBOC\LIB<return>         Sets directory for library files
8.   <Esc>                       Returns to "Options" menu
9.   S                           Selects "Store options"
10.  <return>                    Stores file named "TCCONFIG.TC"
11.  <Esc>                       Return to the TURBO-C main menu




To run your first program.  (This assumes FIRSTEX.C has been copied
into the \TURBOC\ directory from the tutorial SOURCE disk.)

1.   TC<return>                  Loads the Turbo C compiler
2.   F                           Selects "Files"
3.   L                           Selects "Load"
4.   <return>                    Lists all files *.C
5.   Position cursor on FIRSTEX.C
6.   <return>