Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!wuarchive!gem.mps.ohio-state.edu!apple!agate!ucbvax!pro-beagle.cts.com!mmunz
From: mmunz@pro-beagle.cts.com (Mark Munz)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple
Subject: Re: Orca/C V1.0 bugs
Message-ID: <8910020336.AA13294@trout.nosc.mil>
Date: 2 Oct 89 00:42:41 GMT
Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
Organization: The Internet
Lines: 36

Network Comment: to #11148 by usc!henry.jpl.nasa.gov!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!gryphon!pnet02!martyp@bloom-beacon.mit.edu


> The MAJOR differences between gnu C and ORCA/C are:
>
> 1. ORCA/C is reputed to be finished commercial software! As far as I'm
> concerned it never should have been released from BETA testing!
>
> 2. gnu C is "free" for the downloading... ORCA/C retails for $150.00
>
> Mike Westerfield blew it by releasing it too early. I have found it tota
> unusable.
>
> Marty
>

 Did you expect it to be completely BUG FREE?  Come on. I hope not. Any
 large program will have all kinds of bugs that will never be found in
 beta testing (no matter how long it is).

 I'm sure that languages are even more difficult to test. All the different
 combinations that a language can have.  Being a programmer, I've seen this
 happen (where beta testing doesn't catch all).

 I say we force all publishers not to put out anything if there's even the
 slighest chance of a bug in it. That way, there will be no software available
 for us to buy and use.  We can then go about and just play games, since all
 the real applications will be in beta testing for 10, maybe 20 years..

 As for comparing Orca/C and gnu C, you forgot to mention that gnu C isn't
 available on the IIGS. And in fact, your only other option with C on a IIGS
 is APW C (now there's a bug free language!).  And remember, in the Mac & IBM
 world, $150 is absolutely nothing. Most programs start at $200 and work their
 way up.

--Mark Munz