Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!seismo!mcvax!ukc!eagle!icdoc!dcw
From: dcw@doc.ic.ac.uk (Duncan C White)
Newsgroups: comp.lang.modula2
Subject: Re: Modula-2 for UNIX System V
Message-ID: <473@ivax.doc.ic.ac.uk>
Date: Mon, 13-Jul-87 07:48:33 EDT
Article-I.D.: ivax.473
Posted: Mon Jul 13 07:48:33 1987
Date-Received: Thu, 16-Jul-87 06:35:54 EDT
References: <8707081024.AA21949@cayuga.cs.rochester.edu>
Reply-To: dcw@doc.ic.ac.uk (Duncan C White)
Distribution: world
Organization: Dept. of Computing, Imperial College, London, UK.
Lines: 52

In article <8707081024.AA21949@cayuga.cs.rochester.edu> Patrik Eschle writes:

>>Does anyone know of a Modula-2 compiler for UNIX System V, and specifically
>>one that will work with an AT&T 3B2/300? --Roger Terrell
>
>There exixsts one, called MODULA-2/68 for 68xxx processors. Systems
>supported are (June 86, 1 year ago): Alto 3068 (Sys V), IRIS Workstations
>(UniPlus), Sun (BSD 4.2), Tektronix 4400 Workstation (Uniflex), VAX Unix
>and VAX VMS 4.2, Philips VME Systems (UniFive).
>
>It costs min. $500. From what i saw from the users guide, the implementation
>is not that good, they did not find a convincing solution for the
>I/O modules - I decided on Oregon Pascal.
>

We have recently this compiler for our Sun 3/50s.  [We bought it via
Real Time Associates, a British firm]  I think our licence set us back
2000 pounds [roughly]

The compiler still has some bugs, and doesn't interface to C terribly
well [the parameters are REVERSED !!].  However, RTA and the Dhajaheri
Brothers seem to respond positively to bug reports.... we started with
version 1.4, and are now on 1.6 !  As yet, it is only a Revision 2
compiler - no MIN and MAX [sob].

As to I/O modules... when AREN'T these a problem ?  Until someone gets their
finger out and defines a nice, easy-to-use, polymorphic, variable-no-parameters,
and, most importantly, STANDARD I/O system, I/O is a perpetual problem.
For what it's Wirth :-) InOut appears to be implemented adequately, although
without ReadAgain.

Bring back writeln [or printf] !  All is forgiven !

Overall, I would say I'm reasonably happy with the compiler... despite a
six hour debugging session trying to work out how passing strings to a C
module was [sometimes!] giving a segmentation fault in a SunTools routine !
I never did fix it... I just fudged it...

Obviously, I can't say what happens on other 68K targets..

	Duncan.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
JANET address : dcw@uk.ac.ic.doc| Snail Mail :  Duncan White,
--------------------------------|               Dept of Computing,
  Disclaimer: I speak for me,   |               Imperial College,
  and me alone.....             |               180 Queen's Gate,
  (sometimes, heh heh, even I   |               South Kensington,
  disagree with what I say)     |               London SW7
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tel: UK 01-589-5111 x 4982/4991
----------------------------------------------------------------------------