Sender: crough45 AT amc DOT de
Message-Id: <97Aug14.105033gmt+0100.17077@internet01.amc.de>
Date: Thu, 14 Aug 1997 09:52:11 +0100
From: Chris Croughton <crough45 AT amc DOT de>
Mime-Version: 1.0
To: Stephen DOT Bint AT virgin DOT net
Cc: djgpp AT delorie DOT com
Subject: Re: Don't get mad
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Precedence: bulk

Stephen DOT Bint AT virgin DOT net wrote:

> Is it safe to mention Apple computers here?

It's safe to mention them as long as you include standard
derogatory comments <g>.  Of course, it may not be relevant...

> Is it possible to port my DJGPP code, to an Apple computer?

It all depends on how portably you've written your code.
If you've kept to strict ANSI C syntax and libraries then
it should be simple, if it includes a lot of machine specifics
(which includes sizes of variable types and byte order, as well
as specific operating system calls and language extensions) then
it could be difficult.

> Are there any screen functions (clear, position cursor, etc) 
> which have cross-platform definitions, so my code can include them?

No.  The nearest is the ANSI/DEC VT100-type text escape sequences,
but even they are honoured more in name than in implementation
(for instance the PC's ANSI.SYS does several things against the 
spec., as well as adding things).

Note that the Mac is primarily a GUI system, whereas DJGPP is
a command-line compiler and the ANSI C library functions are
basically designed for terminal I/O or similar (i.e. straight
text).  I don't know if the Mac includes any equivalent of
the Win95 Console Mode programs, or the Windows DOS box, but
I haven't seen it.

> Are grx functions PC specific?

Very.  I believe there is a Linux port of grx planned (or possibly
released by now) but that's all.

> How hard would it be for a PC owner like me to produce an .exe 
> for an Apple Mac?

Do you mean produce a Mac executable (not .exe there) on a PC to
run on a Mac?  I don't know of any cross-compilers for that -
which it would be possible to produce a version of DJGPP which
did it you'd have to do a lot of work (like rewriting half the
library, as well as putting the new code generation on).

I believe there is a port of gcc for the Mac, but I have no idea
where to find it (the FSF don't acknowledge it).

Chris C