Conference hydra::amiga_v1

    
    I talked to Lattice this morning, and they told me that C++ will
    basically be a C++ pre-processor packaged with their latest C compiler.
    There *will* be an upgrade path for people like me, who are using
    C v3.03.  (Got it in 1.1 developers kit - all for $50, call me cheap.)
    I've been using v3.03 for just a short while, to get my feet wet
    in the Amiga waters.
    
    I know it is easier for Lattice to produce a pre-processor, and then
    run the code through their standard compiler, but how does this
    affect efficiency?  Hopefully not too much.  I have seen PC C++
    offered as a C++ compiler.  Less time/work for the programmer, it
    seems.  Hopefully, it won't be *too* buggy.
    
    Shipment is scheduled for late October, early November.  I've seen
    it advertised for some time now.  Could anyone actually have it?
              
    Steve

I have found it a pain to use a C++ translator on VMS.
If you use a symbolic debugger then it probably won't do
you much good since that C source is probably unreadable.
Compilation takes longer and is more complicated.

			Dean Cromack

The usual way of implementing C++ is as a "preprocessor" that reads the
C++ program and produces regular C which is then compiled by a compiler.
The Bell C++, which is still the standard for C++, is a preprocessor.

C++ compilers are still very rare:  I believe that there is only one
or two shipping in the clone world, compared to hundreds of C compilers.

Most C++ systems are still the preprocessor, usually a port of the Bell
Labs C++.  The disadvantages are as pointed out in .1: you lose source
level debugging and the compilation process is slower.  The advantage
is that you get real C++ with the latest improvements to the language.

C++ is still a rapidly evolving language.  It lacks a standard definition
(if you disallow the code of the preprocessor itself).  There is a book
on the language from the language's inventor, but it is not comprehensive
enough to serve as a language definition to a compiler writer.  The
inventor of the language is still working on improvements to the language.
Those improvements show up first in the Bell Labs C++ that he distributes.
So, C++ systems that are posts of his preprocessor are next in line
for updates.

You may have noticed I put quotes around "preprocessor" the first time
I used it (I dropped the quotes subsequently for readability).  The
C++ "preprocessor" is really a compiler.  It does extensive type checking
and transformations on the program far above what a simple preprocessor
could do.  If the C++ translator compiles the program, the resulting output
file is guaranteed to compile successfully by the C compiler.  There is
just a great temptation to call the C++ translator a preprocessor because
it "just" translates the C++ program into different ASCII text instead of
binary.

However, in C++ talk, a C++ compiler goes from C++ to binary where a C++
translator (or "preprocessor") goes from C++ to C.

What is C++?

What new constructs are available?



John

    Re: .3
    
    I have not seen the book for C++ yet...could someone post some more
    information please.

    There are two books I know of on C++.  The only one I have at my desk
    currently is the one written by the original designer of the language.

    The C++ Programming Language
    Bjarne Stroustrup, AT&T Bell Laboratories
    Addison-Wesley Publishing Company
    Reprinted with corrections July, 1987

    This is not a very good introduction to the language, since it was
    written by someone obviously VERY close to his subject matter.  There
    is a better text available, but I'll have to hunt for the reference.

    There are also the proceedings of the USENIX C++ workshop:

    USENIX Proceedings and Additional Papers, C++ Workshop
    Sante Fe, NM, 1987
    $20, (+$25 air postage or $5 surface postage for overseas)

    write:

    USENIX Association
    P.O. Box 2299
    Berkeley, CA  94710

    There is also a C++ notesfile, CADSYS::C_PLUS_PLUS.

    I have a book from the DEC Library that is entitled "An Introduction
    to Object Programming and C++". It seems pretty good but haven't really
    looked at it too much because I don't have C++, or time. (yet)
    
    Check out the Library under subjects "Object Oriented" and "C++".
    There is a series of articles in August's Byte on C.  Basically
    How it started, How it has evolved (C++), and How to implement
    OOP using standard C.  I know its a PC mag, but grin and bear it. (^:
    
    Of course the C_plus_plus notesfile has information, pointers also.
    
    It seems like C++ would fit in very nicely with the ObjOriented Amiga.
                                                                     
    --Steve

    That title should be "An Introduction to Object Oriented Programming
    and C++" - but you probably knew what I meant. (^:

>   That title should be "An Introduction to Object Oriented Programming
>   and C++" - but you probably knew what I meant. (^:

    This is the title of the book that is supposed to be much better
    than the Stroustroup book.  I have read this book cover to cover.
    I recommend it.  I tried to read the Stroustroup book, but stopped
    after a couple of chapters.