The (highly unofficial) FIDONET OS2PROG C++ compiler pros and cons list
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    Z===============4 Borland C++ 2.0 for Intel OS/2 C===============?
    3                                                                3[
    3  [-] OS/2 Developers' Toolkit (*NOTE*) [*] IDE                 3[
    3  [*] PM Class libraries                [ ] Workframe   (*NOTE*)3[
    3  [*] Ships on CD-ROM          (*NOTE*) [-] SOM support         3[
    3  [ ] DirectToSOM C++                                           3[
    3  [ ] Intel 586 FDIV workaround                                 3[
    3                                                                3[
    3 No FIDONET address.  The Internet address has stopped working. 3[
    3                                                                3[
    3 Borland International (U.K.) Ltd, Twyford, READING  RG10 8BR   3[
    3 Telephone : +44 1734 321150           Fax : +44 1734 320017    3[
    {at}================================================================Y[
     __________________________________________________________________

                               == NOTES ==

   WorkFrame support is provided (by BC_WF.DLL, TLINK_WF.DLL, and
   BORLAND.PRF), but it isn't documented at all.  Borland has integrated
   the OS/2 Developer's Toolkit into its own toolset.  However, it is the
   2.0 version of the Toolkit, with some glaring errors in the
   documentation and (more importantly) the header files, that were
   corrected in Toolkit 2.1.  Some tools from the Toolkit, such as NMAKE
   and LINK386, are omitted because Borland's own toolset provides
   equivalents.  Other tools, such as the SOM compiler, are completely
   missing.

   Third party tools are now available for Borland C++ and OWL/PM, such as
   Professor OWL from March Software (demo versions widely available).

                                == PRO ==

   Quick development and fast compilation.  Will run on an 8Mb machine.
   Supports 586.  Upward compatibile with Borland C++ for DOS source
   (apart from recent changes to C++) and toolset (which Borland users
   from other platforms will find familiar).  Neat and easy to use IDE,
   that integrates editor, compiler, linker, debugger, and API reference,
   and that allows you to compile and edit at the same time.  Full syntax
   colouring in the editor, and the debugger uses colour.  Good standalone
   PM debugger (Turbo Debugger GX), and standalone text-mode debugger
   (which can both debug PM and text mode apps).  Comes with Borland's own
   very good PM Resource Workshop, including tools to migrate Windows
   resources to PM.  32-bit in-line assembler (BASM) and standalone
   assembler (TASM).  Full source to all libraries available.  Full
   run-time library source available (included in CD version).  C++
   compilation is very fast.  Supports pre-compiled headers.  Borland MAKE
   has the ability to batch up successive calls to the compiler from a
   makefile, reducing overhead, and also automatically tracks header
   dependencies.

                                == CON ==

   IDE uses MDI paradigm, eating screen space, and has trouble with some
   Super VGA display resolutions.  The IDE also has trouble indexing the
   on-line documentation, and calling up the index can cause the user
   interface to go into navel gazing mode for several minutes.  No support
   for writing 16-bit callable code and no 16-bit libraries (which rules
   out device drivers).  Support for calling 16-bit code (thunking) has
   serious bugs in.  The optimiser is mediocre, and you may have to write
   defensively to take its quirks into account.  The code generator has
   some serious flaws (stack probes are not generated).  There are a lot
   of non-standard items in the libraries and headers ("Borlandisms").
   Poor support for POSIX.1 in the libraries.  Resource workshop isn't as
   good as Borland *could* do.  The tools are slightly idiosyncratic (MAKE
   has difficulty with macros that are environment variables).  OWL for PM
   does not support any CUA91 controls (although writing your own is not
   hard).  Poor technical support (bugs are rarely acknowledged, and some
   widely known ones still remain unfixed).


    Z==============4 Watcom C++ 10.5 for Intel OS/2 C================?
    3                                                                3[
    3  [*] OS/2 Developer's Toolkit          [*] IDE         (*NOTE*)3[
    3  [ ] PM Class libraries                [*] Workframe           3[
    3  [*] Ships on CD-ROM          (*NOTE*) [*] SOM support (*NOTE*)3[
    3  [ ] DirectToSOM C++                                           3[
    3  [*] Intel 586 FDIV workaround                                 3[
    3                                                                3[
    3 FIDONET 1:221/186.0.  All Watcom patches are available from    3[
    3 their FIDONET site.  File Request FILES from them for details. 3[
    3 Send mail to "sales".                                          3[
    3                                                                3[
    3 Watcom International Corp, 415 Philip Street, Waterloo,        3[
    3 Ontario  N2L 3X2,  CANADA.                                     3[
    3 Telephone : +1 519 886 3700    Fax : +1 519 747 4971           3[
    {at}================================================================Y[
     __________________________________________________________________

                               == NOTES ==

   Some parts of the IDE are Windows programs (although the resource tools
   supplied in the OS/2 Developers' Toolkit may be substituted for them).
   The SOMObjects Developers Toolkit version 1.0 is bundled, and version
   2.1 is available from Watcom.

                                == PRO ==

   Highly portable (DOS+Windows, extended DOS, Intel OS/2, Netware).  Able
   to generate applications for multiple platforms from OS/2 with little
   or no source changes.  Able to debug DOS and Windows applications
   running in separate sessions within OS/2.  Has its own IDE similar to
   Workframe, connecting editor, compiler, linker, and on-line help, which
   is not a tightly integrated IDE (the editor used can be configured).
   All documentation is on-line, as are example demo programs for all
   standard library functions.  Supports pre-compiled headers.  Industrial
   strength optimiser, which is reasonably configurable.  Develops for
   both 16 and 32 bit platforms.  Supports 586.  Supports customisable
   function calling conventions (via pragma aux).  Add-on kit available
   from Watcom's FIDONET node for device driver development.  32-bit
   assembler (WASM).  Excellent technical support (Watcom will ship
   patches to major bugs to registered users).

                                == CON ==

   The tools are counterintuitive to those coming from other environments.
   The linker is unusual and idiosyncratic, as it combines DEF file and
   LNK file in one (but with Watcom's own syntax), and can get pretty
   hairy when linking for a different platform to the host environment.
   Printed manuals are extra and will almost double the price of the
   product.  The documentation is badly edited, repetitive, and in cases
   misleading.  The macros and keywords that are available for
   "compatibility" tend to obscure the native features.  At least three of
   the bundled toolkits, for which you pay, aren't of any relevance to
   OS/2 development.  The SOMObjects Developers' Toolkit supplied is only
   for version 1 of SOM, whereas OS/2 WARP requires version 2 (installing
   version 1 SOM.DLL will disable Workplace Shell -- be warned!).  The
   install program is not bright enough to realise when it is downgrading
   your SOM support.  The technical support has been outsourced, and
   anything more than help for installing the program and compiling the
   sample code (which is free of charge) now costs a significant amount.
   The C++ runtime library is not available in DLL form.


    Z===4 MetaWare High C++ 3.32 for Intel OS/2 and PowerPC OS/2 C===?
    3                                                                3[
    3  [*] OS/2 Developer's Toolkit          [ ] IDE                 3[
    3  [ ] PM Class libraries                [*] Workframe           3[
    3  [ ] Ships on CD-ROM                   [*] SOM support         3[
    3  [*] DirectToSOM C++ (SOM 2.1 and 3.0, and Distributed SOM)    3[
    3  [*] Intel 586 FDIV workaround                                 3[
    3                                                                3[
    3 No FIDONET address.  Try techsales{at}metaware.com .              3[
    3                                                                3[
    3 MetaWare Inc., 2161 Delaware Avenue, Santa Cruz CA 95060 USA.  3[
    3 Telephone : +1 408 429 META (6382)                             3[
    3 Fax       : +1 408 429 WARE (9273)                             3[
    {at}================================================================Y[
     __________________________________________________________________

                               == NOTES ==

   The OS/2 Developers' Toolkit 2.1 that is supplied supports SOM 1.x.
   DirectToSOM C++, however, supports SOM 2.1 and SOM 3.0 natively.  The
   SOM.DLL supplied with High C++ is a later release than the one supplied
   with WARP, but the WARP version may be used as long as SOM 3.0 support
   is not required.

                                == PRO ==

   Highly portable (almost identical compilers are available for AIX,
   DOS+Windows, extended DOS, Intel OS/2, PowerPC OS/2, and UNIX System
   V).  This is the only C++ compiler currently available for PowerPC OS/2
   (see the DevCon CD-ROMs).  Excellent POSIX.1 support (due to UNIX
   influence).  Industrial strength optimiser, with every individual
   optimisation separately configurable.  Supports 586.  Supports
   customisable function calling conventions.  Proposed ISO C++ features
   (namespaces, exception aware classes) not in any other current compiler
   on any platform.  C++ language extensions include iterators, case
   ranges in switch statements, nested functions, pass-by-name.  Supports
   per-thread variable declarations.  Supports developing Workplace Shell
   objects with DTS C++ (all DTS C++ headers for WPS are provided, along
   with a chapter in the DirectToSOM Developers' Guide on WPS
   development).  Ships with the excellent Rogue Wave Tools.h++ class
   libraries (with everything from strings to databases).  Comes with
   example demo programs for all standard library functions.  Excellent
   and detailed manuals.  Excellent technical support (Metaware will ship
   patches to major bugs to registered users).

                                == CON ==

   Terrible text-mode debugger.  No 16-bit support for Intel OS/2
   whatsoever (Pre-thunked versions of VIO16/MOU16/KBD16 are supplied in
   the runtime library, though).  Requires that you have the SOMObjects
   Developers' Toolkit for Interface Repository development work.  Most
   expensive of all of the C++ compilers listed here.


    Z============4 IBM VisualAge C++ 3.0 for Intel OS/2 C============?
    3                                                                3[
    3  [*] OS/2 Developer's Toolkit          [ ] IDE                 3[
    3  [*] PM Class libraries                [*] Workframe           3[
    3  [*] Ships on CD-ROM                   [*] SOM support         3[
    3  [*] DirectToSOM C++ (SOM 2.1 only)                            3[
    3  [ ] Intel 586 FDIV workaround                                 3[
    3                                                                3[
    3 No FIDONET address.  Try vacpp{at}vnet.ibm.com .                  3[
    3                                                                3[
    3 IBM U.K. Ltd.  Personal Systems Enquiry Centre, PO Box 32,     3[
    3 Alencon Link, Basingstoke RG21 1EJ.                            3[
    3 Telephone : +44 1256 841818   Fax : +44 1256 28912             3[
    {at}================================================================Y[
     __________________________________________________________________

          ( The previous version was called IBM CSet++ 2.1. )

                               == NOTES ==

                                == PRO ==

   *The* standard for OS/2 development.  An industrial strength optimiser,
   slightly lagging MetaWare and Watcom (which are the ackowledged
   industry leaders).  Supports 586.  Can call 16-bit code from 32-bit
   code and generate 32-bit code that is callable by 16-bit code.
   Excellent PM debugger (ICSDEBUG).  Toolset is easy to learn for those
   upgrading from Microsoft compilers, and is well crafted.  Has the
   ability to keep the compiler executables resident in memory across
   compiles, thereby reducing loading delays for multiple successive
   compiles.  Supports pre-compiled headers.  Good technical support (the
   usual IBM CSD system for updates and bugfixes).  Taking a leaf from
   Borland's book, IBM now integrates the SOMObjects Developers Toolkit
   and the OS/2 Developers' Toolkit into the compiler instead of them
   being separate components.  The on-line help has been improved, with
   additional "How Do I..." manuals giving answers to many frequently
   asked questions.  Debug memory management and custom heaps allow fine
--- Blue Wave/OS2 v2.20 [NR]