What is the best C++ compiler for MS-DOS platforms?

Eric Lemings
Univ. of Tenn.

Lemings, Eric Bradley (brad@utkvx.utk.edu) wrote:
: What is the best C++ compiler for MS-DOS platforms?

: Eric Lemings
: Univ. of Tenn.

I use C++ on PCs for DOS and Windows work, and use either BC++ 3.1 or
Symantec's Zortech C++ 3.1.
Borland has a better front end, so writing your programs is a shade
more pleasant, but the Zortech compiler is faster and meaner, and makes
quicker, leaner code than Borland.  Haven't used the MS compilers for
C++, but the general opinion seems to be that they're not as nice to
use as the Borland products, but produce better code.  Having said that,
I'd trust Zortech's compiler more, as back at MSC 5.1 and ZTC 2.0, the
Zortech product left Microsoft in the dust.  Also note that MSC 7
absolutely requires a 386, but won't let the code take full advantage
of 32 bit operation, whereas Zortech works happily on any old AT and
bundles both 286 and 386 DOS extenders.  With the latter you can use
a flat 32 bit memory space transparently with MS-DOS, and all it takes
is setting a compiler switch.

Conclusion: if you want a good development environment with excellent
            hypertext help and coloured syntax highlighting (v. useful)
            to help you write the code, go for BC++

            if you're happy with the programming anyway, but want a bit
            more in the performance department, go for Zortech C++

This is completely personal: someone's bound to disagree, so see if you
can borrow copies or get demos before buying.  All 3 products mentioned
have long feature lists, and each is better than the other 2 on at least
one front, so if you have very specific requirements they must be taken
into account (i.e., doing numerical programming? Zortech; interfacing with
MASM code? probably MS; etc).
Ask a more specific question, and I might be able to do better for answers.

Peter Clinch,
Dundee Uni Medical Physics, Scotland.

--
In article <24APR199318140903@utkvx.utk.edu>, brad@utkvx.utk.edu (Lemings, Eric Bradley) writes:
|>Newsgroups: comp.std.c++
|>Path: msuinfo!uchinews!ncar!gatech!howland.reston.ans.net!darwin.sura.net!martha.utcc.utk.edu!utkvx.utk.edu!brad
|>From: brad@utkvx.utk.edu (Lemings, Eric Bradley)
|>Subject: C++ compilers
|>Message-ID: <24APR199318140903@utkvx.utk.edu>
|>News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41
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|>Date: Sat, 24 Apr 93 19:14:00 EDT
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|>What is the best C++ compiler for MS-DOS platforms?
|>
|>Eric Lemings
|>Univ. of Tenn.
|>

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In article <24APR199318140903@utkvx.utk.edu> brad@utkvx.utk.edu (Lemings, Eric Bradley) writes:
/What is the best C++ compiler for MS-DOS platforms?

Zortech. :-)

In article <24APR199318140903@utkvx.utk.edu>, brad@utkvx.utk.edu (Lemings, Eric Bradley) writes:
> What is the best C++ compiler for MS-DOS platforms?

In the other reply's I missed the GNU C++ version adapted by DJ Delorie,
It can be found as DJGPP at ftp.uu.net in the directory:
/systems/ibmpc/msdos/simtel20/djgpp
Also it can be found on prep.ai.mit.edu, but I don't know the directory.
This compiler is meant for people who come from Unix firstly, and it has
great features. Another advantage that it is distributed under the
GNU General Public License (some exceptions are made)
and can thus freely be copied.

I hope I was of service,

John van Leeuwen
(johnvl@duteca.et.tudelft.nl)