Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!ukma!sean
From: sean@ms.uky.edu (Sean Casey)
Newsgroups: news.admin
Subject: PD C as solution to binary groups
Message-ID: <6960@g.ms.uky.edu>
Date: Mon, 27-Jul-87 19:10:19 EDT
Article-I.D.: g.6960
Posted: Mon Jul 27 19:10:19 1987
Date-Received: Wed, 29-Jul-87 00:37:37 EDT
Organization: The Leaning Tower of Patterson Office @ The Univ. of KY
Lines: 23


A compiler isn't going to solve all the problems anyway.  Most programs use
system specific features.  A compiler can't resolve all of them.  Try porting
an Amiga program that uses windows and bitblt graphics and 4 channel sound
to an IBM pc.  So what is the solution?  Never use system specific features?
Put #ifdefs to support every machine that the compiler runs on?  No way!

What about people that happen to like their $400 (or $4000) dollar compilers?
Are they going to discard their investment for something that probably won't
nearly work as well?

Frankly, I'd rather see only source posted.  Unfortunately, not everyone has
a compiler.  Not everyone uses C either.  Not everyone has the source to the
programs they post.  What about PKARC or PROCOMM for the IBM pc?  No
one is going to get source for them, but the community benefits by their
presence.  The same goes for any shareware program or software that the
author does not wish to relase with source, as is his right.

Sean
-- 
-- Sean Casey                    sean@ms.uky.edu,    {uunet,cbosgd}!ukma!sean
--                               sean@ms.uky.csnet,  sean@UKMA.BITNET
-- We want...    a shrubbery!