An MS-Dos C compiler for $49.95 ?

[Paul S. R. Chisholm]

< I can use my magic to change the color to red -- but I don't do windows. >

In article <410 at moncol.UUCP>, john at moncol.UUCP (John Ruschmeyer) writes:
> 
>  Looking throught the new PC-World, I came across an add for a C compiler
> from a company called Ecosoft Inc. It was billed as a full C compiler for
> $49.95.
>...
> The address of the company:  Ecosoft Inc. . . .
>...
> Has anyone out there heard of this company or, better yet, purchased this
> compiler? It seems too good to be true, but if it is, it would be the Turbo
> Pascal of C compilers.

Maybe not.  Ecosoft has had a reasonably good C compiler for CP/M-80 for
a few years now.  I think they were in one of the reviews in the Aug 83
(?) "C" issue of Byte.  Reviewers' consensus seemed to be that the
product was all right, but not outstanding.

I've heard some pretty good things about C-Ware's $109 DeSmet C
compiler.  It's not as tight as the Turbo Pascal compiler, but it does
include a screen editor and RAM-disk software (and an optional $50
symbolic debugger).  Any DeSmet users want to wave a flag?

Then again, the "Turbo Pascal of C compilers" may yet come this year
from Borland, the people who bring you Turbo Pascal and Sidekick.  Stay
tuned.

Final note:  I wish some C compiler supplier would provide something
like "lint", the C program checker.  Yeah, I now there's one avaiable
separately for four hundred dollars.  Do I hear one hundred?
-- 
       -Paul S. R. Chisholm       The above opinions are my own,
       {pegasus,vax135}!lzwi!psc  not necessarily those of any
       {mtgzz,ihnp4}!lznv!psc     telecommunications company.
       (*sigh* ihnp4!lzwi!psc does *NOT* work!!!  Use above paths.)
       "It must be fast, and it must be red, and it must have windows."