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From: mwilson@crash.CTS.COM (Marc Wilson)
Newsgroups: comp.lang.c,comp.lang.misc
Subject: Re: Small-C
Message-ID: <1415@crash.CTS.COM>
Date: Mon, 20-Jul-87 16:17:35 EDT
Article-I.D.: crash.1415
Posted: Mon Jul 20 16:17:35 1987
Date-Received: Wed, 22-Jul-87 01:51:40 EDT
References: <3452@ihlpg.ATT.COM> <213@xrxns.UUCP> <3433@oberon.USC.EDU>
Reply-To: mwilson@crash.CTS.COM (Marc Wilson)
Organization: Grossmont College, El Cajon, Ca.
Lines: 47
Keywords: Byte Works, Inc., Small-C,
Xref: mnetor comp.lang.c:3178 comp.lang.misc:555

In article <3433@oberon.USC.EDU> mlinar@poisson.usc.edu.UUCP (Mitch Mlinar) writes:
>
>In fact, nearly EVERY 8-bit compiler on the market (Aztec, Software
>Toolworks, Manx, etc.) was based upon Small-C.  The only three exceptions
>I know about to date are BDS-C (which was before Small-C), Mix C (which
>is just awful in 8-bit), and CZ (a Z80 assembly based compiler).
>
>The current versions of Small-C support 2 dimensional arrays and even
>limited structures, but 
>    - do not support passing anything other than char, int, addresses, or
>      pointers on the stack (no struct)
>    - lousy initialization
>    - no floating point or bit fields
>    - no union
>    - limited complexity (stuff like  char *(foo[6])(i,j)  will fail)
>    - limited library (as in almost none)
>
>BUT in defense of Small-C (which I highly recommend if you want to see the
>SOURCE to a compiler), it is FREE and a LOT of commercial packages STOLE
>it (that's what I call it), added and/or fixed a few things, and stamped
>their own label on it.  With the exception of Software Toolworks C/80 (only
>$49), the rest are overpriced for the amount of ownership.  But, Manx at
>one time also included the source to the compiler for a extra $25 (above its
>$80), so that might be a better way to go.  Nobody includes source in IBM
>that I know about (for commercial C).
>
>Again, if you want to learn a little about compilers, just working with
>Small-C a few weeks will give you a good feel of the issues, complexity, and
>headaches of writing a compiler.  You might also have some fun.
>
>-Mitch

       Where is this newer version of Small-C.  I have the 2.1 version, and
it definately does NOT support the things you describe.  I also have an OLD
copy of C/80 that I'd love a manual for... if someone can point me in the
right direction?

     Also, why is 8-bit Mix C so bad?  No flames, please, just objective
 opinions.
-- 
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Marc Wilson
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