From:	mschulter AT DOT value DOT net (M. Schulter)
Newsgroups:	comp.os.msdos.djgpp
Subject:	DJGPP distribution: not too many places
Date:	1 Jul 1997 02:46:36 GMT
Organization:	Value Net Internetwork Services Inc.
Lines:	52
Message-ID:	<5p9r2c$o5f$1@vnetnews.value.net>
NNTP-Posting-Host:	value.net
To:	djgpp AT delorie DOT com
DJ-Gateway:	from newsgroup comp.os.msdos.djgpp

Hi, there.

Almost a year after having installed djgpp 2.00 as my first C
compiler, I would like to join in the view that the current
distribution -- or something like it -- is in fact likely the best
solution.

First of all, I would like to emphasize that I did not find installing
djgpp substantially more difficult than installing a typical DOS
program. After getting and reading readme.1st and the FAQ, I printed
out a list of files to download, and then downloaded them from a
simtelnet site and checked them off one by one. Apart from a momentary
hitch resulting from needlessly downloading djcrx200.zip -- not
understanding that I would only need a cross-compiler if I intended to
develop djgpp programs on a UNIX system -- everything went smoothly,
and I was soon compiling a "Hello, World" type program and a test of
the length of an int in djgpp.

For a C newbie, I would say that the relevant test is whether it's
possible with reasonable ease to get to the point of being able to
compile beginner's programs from K&R and other good manuals. By this
test, I would say that djgpp passes with flying colors.

One comment I would emphasize: please don't underestimate the value of
Emacs to DOS users! This program has revolutionized my approach to
PostScript programming and previewing. In fact, when one friend saw
how it is possible to alternate between editing and graphical
previewing with the press of a single function key, she asked if I
were running UNIX. That's a tribute to the effort of the djgpp team,
and to the power of their labors.

For C, Emacs is a great learning environment and an integral part of
the GNU programming environment realized in a DOS context by djgpp.

In short, I would say that the current distribution encourages user
choice while providing a more and more complete set of GNU tools.

To quote Einstein: "Things should be made as simple as possible, but
no simpler."

Most appreciatively,
Margo Schulter
mschulter AT value DOT net

(To reply, please remove the extra . in my default e-mail address)

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