Cheap C++ Compiler

[Technocrat]

I was looking around and came across this. Thought all you cheap people, or MS haters might dig this. Dunno anything about it just saw the artical and thought I would pass it on.


Zortech C++ lives!

Posted by: John Hattan at 11:44

This story starts around 1986. A small company named Zortech released the first commercial C++ compiler for the PC, a full five years before Microsoft and Borland. Around the time that Zortech got serious competition, Symantec bought 'em out, adding a nice IDE and debugger and releasing it as Symantec C++ for Windows. Eventually Symantec got out of the development tool business, and the original author retained the rights to the tools.
Fast-forward a couple of years, and we've now got Digital Mars C++. It claims to be fully compatible with Visual C++ code, object files, and debugging information. It supports MFC and STL. Best of all, it's only $30 on CD!

http://www.digitalmars.com/

[Cbomb]

You can also go to the ultimate in cheapness, Free. With DJGPP

[parksie]

But you can't use that to make Windows programs.

If I used a freebie it would be egcs or Borland.

[HarryW]

Why is it you can't use it to make Windows programs? I've heard that you can't before, I just don't know why. What makes some compilers able to make Windows apps and some not?

[parksie]

Because it compiles for DOS, meaning that it has its own DPMI rather than using the native Windows one (this is why windows programs are smaller).

Also it doesn't support DLLs so you can't use any OS services.

[HarryW]

Uh, DPMI? Wassat?

You can compile .so files on Linux with gcc (DJGPP uses that doesn't it? Well it comes with it anyway) which are basically .dlls with another name, or so I thought. Can't you make them on Windows? Or can you just not use them?

[parksie]

You can't use Windows DLLs apparently.

DPMI - DOS Protected Mode Interface - it allows 32-bit programs to access the full flat memory model. Windows has one built-in, but native DOS programs require their own (remember DOS/4GW?).

Sure, you can duplicate the effect of them, but I don't think a DOS program can use Windows features like that.

[Technocrat]

I think I will just stick with my MSVS Enterprise

[HarryW]

Oh right, 32-bit DOS extenders. I get it now :) Cheers.

[parksie]

I don't see much reason for making DOS programs now, other than for minor recovery utilities.