From: joe@proto.com (Joe Huffman)
Subject: Re: Zortech C++ v3.1
Organization: FlashTek, Inc.
Distribution: usa
Date: Fri, 01 Jan 1993 04:37:21 GMT

bright@nazgul.UUCP (Walter Bright) writes:

>In article <1992Dec28.065134.16783@netcom.com> erc@netcom.com (Eric Smith) writes:
>/Is version 3.1 of the compiler much different from 3.04, or does it
>/mainly just add features?  Which of the bugs in version 3.04 have been
>	It adds templates, AT&T 3.0 compatibility (no exception handling),
>	precompiled headers, Multiscope debugger, Whitewater resource
>	toolkit, Windows 3.1 support.

The one big item (I say big, because of the headline InfoWorld gave it --
"Symantec compiler ships, lacks 32-bit DOS debugger") missing is a debugger 
for the DOS extended applications.  You must go to FlashTek to obtain the 
debugger and an uncrippled version of the 32-bit extender.

>	Over 500 bugs and enhancements have been done. QA has a list
>	and they could tell you the specifics.
>	Me, once I make an improvement and add it to the test suite
>	I don't look backwards, I forget about it and move on to the
>	next set of enhancements customers want.

If you don't look backwards, maybe at least you should look around a bit... 
some of the bugs the other people (Jill Shed I belive) tried to fix in the 
runtime libraries (partial fixed in the first beta) you managed to screw up 
by the second beta.  Just like in the old days you didn't bother to update 
your sources when they were sent to you.  Then you sent out the old sources 
and told everyone they were the masters.  By the time I got the second beta 
and checked out the bugs, it was too late to make it into the release.

You just never learn do you Walter?  That happened at least a half-dozen times
to me when I was working with you, and I know it happened to Doug and Eric 
too.  At least you are Symantec's problem now and not mine anymore...

>/software with VCPI, but was limited to 16 megabytes with Windows/DPMI.
>/Does the new version still have that limitation, and does it still
>/support more than 16 megabytes with VCPI?

The new 32-bit DOS extender from FlashTek includes virtual memory, TSR 
support, memory mapped files, full documentation, lots of examples, and 
Watcom support -- none of which are included in the Zortech 3.1 release.

Off the subject a bit, but FlashTek is considering releaseing a C/C++ compiler.
It would be 32-bit DOS only (at first), but would be fully ARM compliant 
(including exceptions).  We aren't certain we want to get into the market...
The top three C++ compiler vendors (Borland, Microsoft, and Symantec/Zortech)
are all losing money on their products right now.  So why should we get into
the market?  Well... it appears to us that these same three vendors are also
ignoring (or at least neglecting) the 32-bit DOS extended market.  And they
don't have exceptions in their compilers either.  We could release such a 
product in the first quarter of '93 if we decided to.  But it's still a fair 
amount of work and money investment that we would put into another market area
that doesn't have quite so many competitors... if people have any thoughts on 
this matter I would love to hear them.  Consider this another one of my crude
market surveys...

Would you buy a 32-bit DOS extended only C/C++ compiler from FlashTek for the 
following price?

	A) $600.00
	B) $400.00
	C) $200.00

-- 
netcom!proto!joe
joe@proto.com