From: Joseph Morris <jpm AT it-he DOT org>
Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.programmer,comp.os.msdos.djgpp
Subject: Re: What compiler should I choose?
Date: Sun, 06 Aug 2000 11:00:33 +0100
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Message-ID: <398D3741.D4571744@it-he.org>
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To: djgpp AT delorie DOT com
DJ-Gateway: from newsgroup comp.os.msdos.djgpp
Reply-To: djgpp AT delorie DOT com

RMSoft wrote:
> 
> > >> >I am looking for a protected mode compiler with support for multiple
> > >> >segments... (support for far pointers in 32 bit protected mode)
> > >>
> > >> DJGPP can.  It includes a farpointer library.
> > >>   http://www.delorie.com/djgpp/
> > >
> > > Problem: it needs that DS = SS, so I cannot use a separate stack segment
> 
> Use Borland C++3.1 with my 32bit-extension (in my site) and you haven't any
> problems anymore.

A flat-realmode implementation is to be AVOIDED if you wish to use sound in
your application, or you wish to be able to run it at all a few years from now.

Many popular PCI soundcards need EMM386 or Win95 for their drivers, since they
seem to use ring-0 IO traps to redirect the IO ports to the soundblaster
defaults, and they may also use it to simulate ISA DMA transfers somehow.
Try asking an SB-Live! owning Ultima fan if they can play Ultima 7.
(A commercial game from 1992 which uses the flat-realmode technique.)

Also, it won't work in Windows Me, Windows 2000 or Linux without some kind of
heavy-duty emulator like Bochs or VMware, for a similar reason.  None of these
OSes can boot down to DOS because it's either hidden aggressively or simply not
there.

If none of these problems concern you (e.g. it's for industrial control or a
bespoke
application, for writing flash update disk, or the core of some strange OS) use
the technique by all means, otherwise stay clear.

> 
> ------
>  Ivar, (c)RMSoft.
>  http://my.tele2.ee/rmsoft
>  rmsoft DOT rmsoft AT mail DOT ee

-- 
JP Morris - aka DOUG the Eagle (Dragon) -=UDIC=-  doug AT it-he DOT org
Fun things to do with the Ultima games            (http://www.it-he.org)
Developing a U6/U7 clone                          (http://fly.to/ire)
d+++ e+ N+ T++ Om U1234!56!7'!S'!8!9!KA u++ uC+++ uF+++ uG---- uLB----
uA--- nC+ nR---- nH+++ nP++ nI nPT nS nT wM- wC- y a(YEAR - 1976)