From: Weiqi Gao <weiqigao AT a DOT crl DOT com>
Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.djgpp
Subject: Re: cygnus port of gcc
Date: Sun, 06 Jul 1997 09:44:51 -0500
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ON wrote:
> 
> Hi !
> 
> I've downloaded the cygnus port of gcc.
> 
> I still haven't compiled any win95 programs with it, but I have a few
> questions :
> 
> a) Is is a good choice for win95 and dos 32bit ??
> 
> b) Is there any cygnus specific documentation ??
>    (even sample make files for win95 programs )

[I've got to throw this one in :) ]  Have you read the FAQ list?
(located on the Cygnus web site).

As I understand it, GNU-Win32 beta 18 is a near release quality GNU
C/C++ compiler for Windows NT, and Windows 95.  Cygnus' intention seems
to be to produce an somewhat GNU(GPL)-ish alternative Unix(X Window
System) to NT porting tool (in competition with NutCracker, etc.)  If
you plan on using it to write fresh Windows 95 specific programs, then
you can use a package called the Minimalist GNU-Win32 (ming32).

However, to program in Win32, you really need a copy of Win32 SDK (full
documentation of the API, extra tools, etc.).  And the cheapest way of
getting it is to buy a copy of Visual C++ from Microsoft.  So there is
no escaping from having to using non-free software.

GNU-Win32 does not produce DOS 32-bit programs, DJGPP does.  GNU-Win32
is capable of producing Win32 console mode programs, which when run
inside Windows 95, looks just like a DOS program, but will not run in
MS-DOS 6.22, whereas DJGPP compiled programs will run in both
environments.

GNU-Win32 is not documented (yet.)  All the information is scattered
around several places: i) the readme file, ii) the FAQ list, iii) the
mail archive, all of which are available from the Cygnus web site. 
Cygnus is also selling GNU-Win32 under a different license, that might
contain some documentation (I don't know the details).

--
Weiqi Gao
weiqigao AT a DOT crl DOT com