Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.djgpp
Subject: Re: What do you use DJGPP for???
Message-ID: <tzWZIHAjn5zzEwa3@netbook.demon.co.uk>
From: James MacDonald <trill AT Xnetbook DOT demon DOT co DOT uk>
Date: Fri, 18 Jul 1997 17:29:23 +0100
References: <199707120535 DOT WAA15643 AT adit DOT ap DOT net>
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In article <199707120535 DOT WAA15643 AT adit DOT ap DOT net>, Nate Eldredge
<eldredge AT ap DOT net> scribbled :
>Okay, here comes another happy DJGPPer's life story... ;)
>My programming life has essentially only gone up. I once used Turbo Pascal
>but got sick of limitations. I decided to learn C, which I did on a copy of
>Turbo C++ 1.01 (and this was last year!) However, I got sick of
>segment/offset/near pointers/far pointers/memory models very quickly and
>wanted something better. Due to money reasons, buying another compiler was
>not an option. Enter DJGPP, found languishing on a SimTel CDROM. The rest is
>history. I have since recieved BC++ 3.1 but refuse to install it.
>
>Why do I use it?
>- The price is right.
>- I like having source code to programs I use.
>- It helps me move seamlessly between DOS and Linux.
>- It produces very fine code.
>- It helps me learn about protected mode, and how to use my computer as more
>than a turbo 8086.
>- I can write code without worrying about the usual DOS limitations. ("Uh
>oh, what if that buffer goes over 64K?")
>- I can port UNIXish programs.
>- I have full documentation.
>- I know that bugs that are found (by me or anyone) will be fixed, and those
>that aren't will be acknowledged.
>
>I love DJGPP! Thanks so much, everyone!

Hear hear :)
How I got hold of DJGPP is an interesting story. In class, somebody was
hurling CD-ROMs in cases across the classroom. I grabbed one of them,
which happened to be PC Format 29, and on it was DJGPP 2.0!

I borrowed the CD and life has never been the same since.
Benefits of DJGPP :

Do 32-bit protected mode stuff without pain
Doesn't need a hulking 244Kb DOS4GW for PM
Free
Ample documentation
Excellent >free< support from this newsgroup
Includes the bios() routines found in BCC
Has some BCC compatibility
Can compile Pascal, Fortran and Ada (beat that, Borland/Watcom!)
Can do Windoze apps (with RSXNTDJ)
Lots of UNIXisms
Seamless transitions between DOS and UNIX and vice versa
Allows you to get your hands dirty with source code :)

DJGPP is wonderful!
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