From: magus@drktowr.chi.il.us (Louis Giliberto)
Newsgroups: comp.os.coherent
Subject: Re: Why no ANSI C compiler?
Date: 31 Dec 92 11:41:25 GMT
Organization: DarkTower Software
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1 PL7]

Superuser (root@rwsys.wimsey.bc.ca) wrote:
: I agree with you, Louis, but I think things are going to
: change. Here's why:

I thought about it some more, and I agree with you on most of your
points.

: 1. Coherent seems to be on a fast track into a fully
: capable os suitable for biz. 

Right!

: 2. Dos is < $100, and yet compilers sell for much more than the os. 
: If people think there is some advantage to the more expensive compiler, 
: they'll probably buy it.

Well, DOS IMHO is worth far less than $100 (or even $50 -- more like $25),
but the return from writing a marketable DOS app is incredible if it
takes off.  I bought Borland C++ full setup which cost me >$500, but
that's because DJGCC (DOS protected mode GCC) couldn't do MS-Windows
and Borland is what we use for class.  

Right now Unix is a smaller (but growing very fast) market compared to
DOS simply because DOS is loaded onto the machines.  If people were
forced to learn Unix, it would be the other way around.

I guess my argument falls to the point everyone keeps bringing up:
If you are doing development (especially commercial) on that platform,
$250 or more is a drop in the bucket compared to the possible return.

So I'll admit I was wrong :(

: 3. I believe that the market for 3rd party stuff for Coherent 
: has yet to take shape. There is a need for a forum where 3rd 
: parties can advertise. As far as I can tell, the net is the only
: effective way to reach any substantial numbers Coherent users. 
: With the 'netiqeutte' demands for no ads, it must be really hard 
: to get a Coherent application to market. A forum will emerge
: because there will be advertiser demand.

Or, MWC can forward the users addresses (**upon request by the user**) to
companies who are developing Coherent apps.  I wouldn't mind this.  Computer
junk mail I actually like getting just so I know what's out there.
: 
: 4. With the addition of X and TCP/IP "set for early '93", Coherent
: will reach a position of competing with most USL systems in capability.

Yeah, it will make it a more viable development platform.

: 5. Applications written for sysV can be ported to Coh in a flash with

Ok, I think I agree with this one as well.

: 6. The coff compatibility means that there will be no need for 
: big application shops to port anything. The USL binaries should 
: simply run on Coherent right out of the box. Your lotus/dbase/wordperfect
: crowd will have their cake at less cost per seat than dos. This
: will remove an obstacle for Coherent.. the lack of applications.

Yes and no.  There is still a problem with library compatibility that needs
to be cleared up first.  But in general I agree with you.

: 7.  A strong marketing blitz from MWC after X & TCP/IP are stable
: could explode sales. 

I agree, but that would take a fair chunk of change that I'm not so
sure MWC has right now.  I found out about Coherent in Dr. Dobb's
Journal, but if MWC advertised in say PC magazine, I think that would
be good too.  It seems that most of their ads are in Unix/Tech magz,
but I bet a lot of people would buy it if they knew about it.  I would've
bought it a lot sooner, but I bought Minix first since I heard about
Minix before Coherent.  I still use Minix for hacking kernel source,
(and now some Linux), but the point is I didn't know about Coh until
I got Dr. Dobb's which wasn't for a while until after I got my computer.

The other thing which would be great is a PS/2 version.  As a PS/2 owner,
I can tell you first hand that we're dying for reasonably priced software
and hardware that works on our machines.  Coherent could make a bunch of
money for MWC (IMHO) if they did a PS/2 version.  I had to wait a year
to buy it because I had to buy a ISA computer to run it on. (yes, I
bought a $2000 computer for a $99 OS).  Even if they charged $150 for
the PS/2 version, people would buy it I bet.
: 
: I highly doubt that MWC is set up to distribute to small stores all
: over the world; that's not what I'm getting at. Just that Coherent is
: taking off in the market place. Attention is coming in circles 
: not usually associated with unix-like operating systems. These
: circles are more of 'mass' market than unix enjoys and the potential
: for Coherent seems incredible (IMHO).

Again, I agree 100%.

So I guess after thinking about all this, I've changed my mind
and there is a place for more expensive development tools.  Now
how big a place at this moment I don't know, but I agree it will
get bigger.

-Louis
--
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 Louis J. Giliberto, Jr.   ! magus@drktowr.chi.il.us
   -sysadmin drktowr       !   "I had an account at school, but the
   Chicago, IL  USA        !    quota was 300K - what's the point?
Home of DarkTower Software !    One Madonna .gif and it's over!"
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