From:	"Jan Bares" <jan DOT bares AT antek DOT cz DOT no DOT spam>
Newsgroups:	comp.os.msdos.djgpp
Subject:	I want to migrate from VC to free Win32 compiler
Date:	Thu, 22 Jun 2000 15:51:16 +0200
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To:	djgpp AT delorie DOT com
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Reply-To:	djgpp AT delorie DOT com

Hi,

I am looking for free compilers that can be used for professional
development of Win32 applications. I am not a newbie, our company already
developed and sold thousands of copies of our 2D CAD engine JPCAD
(http://www.antek.cz) and many applications that run on top of this engine.
We are currently using Microsoft Visual Studio and SDK. Now I want to know
if there are free alternatives. I already spent some time searching the net
but I am confused. Can you spare me a few minutes and answer those
questions?

DJGPP is 32-bit compiler for DOS. But it can be also used to compile Win32
applications with RSXNTDJ cross-compiler. What is purpose of this cross
compiler? It compiles from what language to what language?

If I have 32-bit compiler, I think that I need only:
*Win SDK headers/libraries (SDK is for free at Microsoft)
*Compiler that can accept Microsoft extensions to standards (as DLL
import/export etc)
*Linker must have option to generate EXE/DLL headers.
*Other tools that are necessary for developing like Make, GUI debugger etc.

When I look to djgpp, cygnus, mingw, I see lot of utilities and binaries
that doesn't fit into this idea. Why I need cross compiler, why I need 4MB
DLL for Cygnus etc? Is the main reason that those compilers are mainly used
to port Unix applications to Windows?

How reliable are those compilers? I don't want to invest weeks in setting up
the developing environment, spend more time hunting for bug created by
unreliable compiler/linker. Do you think it is worth the time?

Best regards, Jan (sorry for this confused mail)

--

Jan Bares
(remove no.spam from my email address)
JPCAD Graphics Engine developer, surf to http://www.antek.cz

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