Article 10988 of comp.sys.acorn: Path: ibmpcug!pipex!uknet!acorn!bcockburn From: bcockburn@acorn.co.uk (Bruce Cockburn) Newsgroups: comp.sys.acorn Subject: Re: Aha - what about Modula-2? Message-ID: <27376@acorn.co.uk> Date: Wed, 20 Oct 93 18:13:09 GMT-1:00 References: <1993Oct18.152149.2326@syma.sussex.ac.uk> Sender: daemon@acorn.co.uk Organization: Acorn Computers Ltd, Cambridge, England Lines: 260 Lee, Here is a re-post. Bruce. >> Date: Fri, 21 May 93 19:30:01 BST >> From: bcockburn (Bruce Cockburn) >> To: sendnewsmail2 >> Subject: comp.sys.acorn.tech >> Message-Id: <2BFD2DB9@bcockburn> >> >> Newsgroups: comp.sys.acorn.tech >> Subject: Re: Modula-2 wanted >> References: <1993May20.101438.27961@unix.brighton.ac.uk> >> Distribution: comp >> Organization: Acorn Computers Ltd, Cambridge, England >> >> People, >> >> Some 17 months ago I post the following to items. They are still true >> today. Perhaps to save the effort of dredging this stuff up every >> now-and-then it could be reduced and added to the FAQ (please)? >> >> Cheers, Bruce. >> >> >> Date: Fri, 13 Dec 91 17:04:03 +0100 >> >> From: bcockburn (Bruce Cockburn) >> >> To: sendnewsmail2 >> >> Subject: comp.sys.acorn >> >> Message-Id: <2948E803@bcockburn> >> >> >> >> Newsgroups: comp.sys.acorn >> >> Subject: Re: Modula-2 for the arch >> >> References: <16908.9112091326@susssys1.rdg.ac.uk> >> >> Distribution: comp >> >> Organization: Acorn Computers Ltd, Cambridge, England >> >> >> >> Hello, >> >> >> >> Back in May I posted a note about Acorn's involvement with Modula2, >> >> recently when the debate mentioned that Acorn had, and was using, a Modula2 >> >> compiler. Recently this subject has recurred so I emailed my original >> >> posting (enclosed here) to the two gentlemen who seemed a bit off the track >> >> (because they lacked information). >> >> >> >> >> Date: Wed, 01 May 91 16:56:59 +0100 >> >> >> From: bcockburn (Bruce Cockburn) >> >> >> To: sendnewsmail2 >> >> >> Subject: comp.sys.acorn >> >> >> Message-Id: <281EF35B@bcockburn> >> >> >> >> >> >> Newsgroups: comp.sys.acorn >> >> >> Subject: Re: Modula 2 >> >> >> References: <1991Apr29.143847.8309@ira.uka.de> >> >> >> Distribution: comp >> >> >> Organization: Acorn Computers Ltd, Cambridge, England >> >> >> >> >> >> Angelo and Alex, >> >> >> >> >> >> Speaking as an employee, not a spokesman, I can assure you that >> >> >> there isn't a Modula2 compiler in use inside Acorn, either for RISC iX >> >> >> or RISC OS. >> >> >> >> >> >> Several years ago (in the days of the 16032) there was a Modula2 >> >> >> compiler which Mick Jordan of the 'Puter Lab and later ARC (Acorn >> >> >> Research Center (Palo Alto)) ported from the original ETH compiler >> >> >> (via a VAX implementation). It was this compiler that Panos was >> >> >> written in but I don't think that it was even released for the 16032 >> >> >> as part of Panos even though we were using it internally. This was >> >> >> because it wasn't quite stable enough to be a product, but was >> >> >> acceptable internally because the support was instant. >> >> >> >> >> >> This compiler was then ported and enhanced (by Mick, Trevor Morris, >> >> >> and others) to Acorn Extended Modula2 (AEM2) as part of early >> >> >> experimental work on ARM based technology (the ARX project). All that >> >> >> technology went off to Olivetti when they took over / bought out ARC. >> >> >> >> >> >> As far as I am aware Acorn no longer has any Mod2 technology. Sorry >> >> >> :-). >> >> >> >> >> >> Bruce. >> >> >> >> >> >> Disclaimer: I talk rubbish, who'd want to claim responsibility for it! >> >> >> >> To clarify; Acorn does not use Modula2 (or any variant thereof) for any >> >> of its current development work. Acorn has not used Modula2 (or any variant >> >> thereof) for several years, the last project which actively used Modula2 was >> >> the PC emulator, all Modula2 was removed from the PC emulator over three >> >> years ago. Old binaries, of both Modula2 and C programs can report >> >> "uncaught exceptions" as being from Modula2, this is not PROOF that a >> >> program is actually written in Modula2. When the C compiler was being >> >> bootstraped it, like the Modula2 system, used a run-time system that worked >> >> with the ARM Procedure Calling Standard. Early C run-time systems (used at >> >> Acorn) were based on the original Modula2 run-time system. (In fact at one >> >> time we were going to try to use the same run-time system for all APCS >> >> languages.) >> >> >> >> To clarify further; Acorn no longer owns the Modula2 compiler (to sell), >> >> it belongs to ARC/ARX which are now part of Olivetti (ORL). >> >> >> >> As far as I am aware there are only three large programs written in >> >> Modula2 which are likely to be outside Acorn (PCEmulator, AAsm, and ObjAsm) >> >> all of these are now completely re-coded in C, and have been for years. >> >> >> >> I can say, without fear of contradiction, that Acorn has an active >> >> dis-interest in Modula2. We have purged ourselves of it. >> >> >> >> If you are interested in a Modula2 compiler why not ask Lee Smith of ARM >> >> Limited (lsmith@armltd.co.uk) if they plan to market a compiler for their >> >> new ARM6/60/600 product, I am sure he will give you a swift and succinct >> >> reply :-). >> >> >> >> Finally, Mr Ian Rawlings says; >> >> >> >> >> ACORN (pointing finger accusingly) have modula-2. Seems draw and edit were >> >> >> written using it. BUT THEY WON'T LET US USE IT! They have told me that `we are >> >> >> not releasing it as we are not going to support it'. >> >> >> >> !Draw and !Edit were/are written in C, they have never been otherwise! >> >> >> >> To be blunt Mr Rawlings, what Acorn has and does is Acorn's business. >> >> >> >> Inflamatory statements like the one above are counter-productive. >> >> >> >> Any views expressed are my own and are not necessarily those _--_|\ >> >> of Acorn. Any factual information is given in good faith and / \ >> >> neither I, nor Acorn can accept liability for loss or damage \_.--._/ >> >> resulting from its use. v >> >> >> Date: Tue, 24 Dec 91 14:52:12 +0100 >> >> From: bcockburn (Bruce Cockburn) >> >> To: sendnewsmail2 >> >> Subject: comp.sys.acorn >> >> Message-Id: <2957499C@bcockburn> >> >> >> >> Newsgroups: comp.sys.acorn >> >> Subject: You don't you offer to port this? >> >> Distribution: comp >> >> Organization: Acorn Computers Ltd, Cambridge, England >> >> >> >> Path: acorn!uknet!mcsun!uunet!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!pacific.mps.ohio-state.edu!linac!att!att!mcdchg!usenet >> >> From: ercs50@castle.ed.ac.uk >> >> Newsgroups: comp.newprod >> >> Subject: EPC Modula-2 Compiler >> >> Message-ID: <85093@mcdchg.chg.mcd.mot.com> >> >> Date: 23 Dec 91 16:52:09 GMT >> >> Sender: usenet@mcdchg.chg.mcd.mot.com >> >> Followup-To: poster >> >> Organization: Edinburgh Portable Compilers Ltd. >> >> Lines: 92 >> >> Approved: usenet@mcdchg.chg.mcd.mot.com >> >> >> >> >> >> EPC Modula-2 >> >> from >> >> Edinburgh Portable Compilers Ltd (EPC) >> >> >> >> EPC Modula-2 is an efficient and robust implementation of the >> >> high-level language designed by Niklaus Wirth as a successor to his >> >> earlier language, Pascal. EPC Modula-2 includes a high-speed >> >> compiler, extensive run-time libraries, automatic program "make", >> >> superb post-failure diagnostics, and full documentation. Various >> >> compiler switches are available to control the degree of run-time >> >> checking and the detail of diagnostic information. The compiler was >> >> designed to provide fast compilation and reliable code generation >> >> coupled with a very high degree of compile-time and run-time checking. >> >> During compilation, over 200 informative error warnings and comment >> >> messages can be generated. At run-time, checks can be applied to >> >> detect undefined variables and sub-range violations. In mid 1992, EPC >> >> will release edb, an interactive source-level debugger providing >> >> high-quality support for Modula-2. >> >> >> >> EPC was formed in 1984 in Edinburgh, Scotland, around a team with many >> >> years experience in providing compilers extensively used in academic >> >> and industrial environments. EPC has established an excellent >> >> reputation for providing high- quality, high-performance and >> >> well-supported products, and strategic relationships have been >> >> established supplying a number of major companies in Europe and the >> >> USA. EPC's family of compilers, which includes Fortran 77, Pascal-E, >> >> ANSI C, C++ and Modula-2 are available on a wide range of Unix >> >> systems, including SunOS, SVR3 and SVR4. Local support is provided by >> >> EPC and their distributors around the world. >> >> >> >> EPC Modula-2 offers the Sun user community >> >> >> >> * Sun Compatibility and Software Developer Productivity >> >> >> >> - compatibility with Sun's Modula-2 language and libraries >> >> - faster compilation times >> >> - support for Solaris (SunOS) dbx, tcov, prof and gprof >> >> >> >> * EPC's extended functionality >> >> >> >> - em2make utility for automatic incremental compilation >> >> - improved interface to standard Sun "make" >> >> - language extensions from emerging standards, such as: - >> >> >> >> extended type conversions (VAL) >> >> additional data-types >> >> multi-dimensional open-arrays >> >> module finalizations >> >> >> >> - other language extensions, such as:- >> >> >> >> bit operators >> >> non-printing characters in strings >> >> pragmas for mixed-language programming >> >> >> >> * Diagnostics, support and future Standards >> >> >> >> - superior run-time error-checking facilities and automatic >> >> postmortem diagnostic displays in source language terms >> >> - responsive support for error corrections, trouble-shooting and consultancy >> >> - EPC Modula-2 developments committed to emerging ISO Standard >> >> >> >> EPC Modula-2 will be made available on Solaris 2.0 (SunOS 5.0, the >> >> SVR4- compatible release) as soon as possible. If all dependent >> >> software schedules hold to current plans, this should be early in >> >> 1992. EPC Modula-2 is also available on Intel/SVR4-based systems, and >> >> plans are already being put in place to support Solaris 2.0 on Intel >> >> platforms. EPC also plans to release its interactive, source-level >> >> debugger -edb- in 1992, which is specifically designed to work with >> >> EPC Modula-2 and other EPC compilers. >> >> >> >> For further product and support information including pricing, please >> >> contact: >> >> >> >> In the U.S., Canada and Mexico: John Buchanan, >> >> Migration Software Systems, Ltd >> >> 2107 North First Street, Suite 600 >> >> San Jose, CA 95131 >> >> Tel (408) 452-0527 >> >> Fax (408) 452-0686 >> >> E-Mail: mss_sales@migration.com >> >> >> >> In other international areas: Kathleen Smith >> >> Edinburgh Portable Compilers Ltd >> >> 17 Alva Street >> >> Edinburgh, EH2 4PH >> >> Scotland >> >> Tel +44(31) 225 6262 >> >> Fax +44(31) 225 6644 >> >> E-Mail UK: support@uk.ac.ed.epc >> >> E-Mail International: support@epc.ed.ac.uk >> >> >> >> Any views expressed are my own and are not necessarily those _--_|\ >> >> of Acorn. Any factual information is given in good faith and / \ >> >> neither I, nor Acorn can accept liability for loss or damage \_.--._/ >> >> resulting from its use. v >> >> Any views expressed are my own and are not necessarily those _--_|\ >> of Acorn. Any factual information is given in good faith and / \ >> neither I, nor Acorn can accept liability for loss or damage \_.--._/ >> resulting from its use. v Any views expressed are my own and are not necessarily those _--_|\ of Acorn. Any factual information is given in good faith and / \ neither I, nor Acorn can accept liability for loss or damage \_.--._/ resulting from its use. v