On Mon, 12 Apr 1999, Chris Antos wrote:
> > if you choose gcc, and with all the free utilities
> > that come with it - you can do just as much as you
> > can with CodeWarrior. if anything - i even think you
> > can get better code from gcc.
>
> don't make definitive statements like that based purely on your own
> speculation.
>
> gcc does not support apps greater than 32kb unless you do some fiddling with
> a couple compiler information files. even after that, it cannot support
> greater than 64kb, and realistically you'll start to have locality link
> errors that are impossible to resolve starting somewhere around 56kb.
This is a difficulty, but one I haven't run into yet (what would take
that much code space??? - If you have massive string tables they belong
in other resources). GLibs are one alternative. Considering I managed to
get a fairly full OpenPGP implementation working this way I don't see it
being that difficult.
> CW's debugger is MUCH better than gdb.
Yes, but there is also an X version of the debugger (still not as good),
and the limitation might be the accessibility of the specs for the
debugger interface within the Palm. Are they available?
> gcc has no support. you have a problem? go read a book on compilers and
> then fix the compiler. (yes, gcc has bugs).
This one really annoys me. I haven't called Metroworks yet, but someone
else has and this was on a known problem with bitmaps in 256 color mode.
The fix is probably out now, but it took a while and several exchanges to
nail down and there wasn't a fix at the time. This wasn't a bad
experience, but it wasn't immediate service with an apologetic smile
either.
Nor do you necessarily have to read a book on compilers - generally
reporting the bug in the right place (e.g. the egcs list) is sufficient.
If there is sufficient interest, I am sure Cygnus will write support
contracts for you.
Support doesn't mean being able to call, fax, or email. Support means
being able to get an answer. And USER SUPPORTED is different from
unsupported. I have lots of unsupported software at home whose parent
company is no longer in business or has moved on to something else and has
been abandoned and I don't have source. And some of the "support" I have
gotten (NOT from palm or metrowerks thankfully) has been expensive, time
consuming, and unhelpful.
> > i had my doubts about gcc until i sat down and performed
> > a little bit of RTFM.. (and looking at the code).. it
> > pays to do this first.
>
> yes, gcc works great for small projects. i don't use it anymore because CW
> is significantly better. noone has to use CW, and i agree that for many
> people, a free compiler is good enough. but free does not automatically ==
> better. (and in this specific case, for serious or large code development,
> gcc is not better).
For large projects you are right in that CW is better. And free doesn't
necessarily mean better. But it often doesn't mean worse.
So when will CodeWarrior be available for Linux? (It might be better, but
if I have to run it on a worse OS I won't have gained - anyone have a
cheap power Mac?).
