Hello Jonathan!

Replying to a message of Jonathan de Boyne Pollard to All:

 JdBP>     Z==============4 Watcom C++ 10.5 for Intel OS/2

This has been upgraded to version 10.6.  For OS/2, this means nothing. 
There were a few bugs fixed from 10.5, but mostly it was an upgrade to
better support the release of Win95.

 JdBP>     Z=================4 EMX C++ 0.9a for Intel OS/2

This is currently at 0.9c, fix01.  A few more changes...

 JdBP> 3[     3 No FIDONET address.                                           
 JdBP> 3[     3 Try mattes{at}azu.informatik.uni-stuttgart.de .                  

Has a mailing list (see the accompanying documentation).

 JdBP> compilers.  You have to    hunt for EMX.  Most file sites are not

EMX is also distributed via FWPROG on the filebone.

Pros:

 JdBP>    Free (it's essentially the GNU compiler "rebadged").  Will
 JdBP> develop OS/2    and extended DOS applications from the same source. 

In fact, using its DOS extender (RSX), one compile will result in a DOS
_and_ an OS/2 executable in one.  Care must be taken, however, that you
don't try to call non-supported APIs in DOS ("os_mode == DOS" or
something like that).

 JdBP> The compiler    itself is a port of GCC ("EMX" derives from the

"EM" is the author: Eberhard Mattes (sp?).

 JdBP>                                 == CON ==

 JdBP> You are expected to be able    to obtain and install all of the
 JdBP> necessary tools which EMX C++ relies    upon (such as TeX and
 JdBP> emacs), for which you also have to hunt (they    aren't distributed

I use EMX without TeX nor emacs.  Mind you, I use the Watcom on-line
manuals for C-library info... ;-)

 JdBP> with it).  No 586 support.  No support for    generating 16-bit
 JdBP> callable code (which rules out device drivers).    Calling 16-bit
 JdBP> code requires "hand thunking" using a set of supplied    macros. 

No longer true - 0.9b or 0.9c included automatic thunking, although the old
macros are still supported for backward compatability.

 JdBP> Development tools are as horrible as the UNIX originals, and    are

"horrible" is a relative term.  To those used to unix-style,
these "IDE's" are horrible.  ;-)

Excellent work, Jonathan.  Keep it up - I knew I wanted VAC, but now I may
also be interested in getting Metaware's compiler despite its expense. 
Mayhaps AFTER I get a job... ;-)

Until Next Time,

--- FleetStreet 1.17 NR