Short: Modula-2 Native PPC Compiler Author: Tom Breeden Uploader: "Tom Breeden" Type: dev/m2 Version: 3.1 Replaces: dev/m2/agletm2ppc.lha Requires: Hyperion SDK; an editor for IDE usage - GoldEd, Annotate, CED, TTX Architecture: ppc-amigaos >= 4.0.5 Distribution: Aminet AgletM2PPC Release Apr 5, 2011 This is an update to Feb 28, 2010 release of a native PPC Modula-2 compiler for Amiga OS4. AgletM2PPC v3.1 beta implements much of the ISO Modula-2 base standard. ------------------------------------------------------------------ I make no representations about the suitability of this software for any purpose. It is provided "as is" without express or implied warranty. ------------------------------------------------------------------ This is copyrighted freeware being distributed "as-is". I hope it can be useful for anyone interested in developing new generation Amiga software with a Wirthian language. ------------------------------------------------------------------ release Apr 5, 2011 - Fixes some compiler code generation errors. - Supports Annotate as an associated editor in M2IDE. - Updates many Amiga library interfaces to SDK 53.20. - Fixes bugs in REAL I/O in ISO support library. - Extends Aglet support modules: > AmigaTimer adds "waituntil" and "entropy" features. > PipeIO is more efficient and adds a timeout feature. > OsRun is a little more filled out. > SimpleGraphics can be used for a type of double buffered animation. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Even though this is a Beta release, I believe the package is in a fairly usable condition. I have successfully built a number of non-trivial programs with it: > The pre-Linker used for building programs > The M2IDE development environment that comes with it > IDLTm2, an IDLTool analogue for producing Interface DEFINITION modules > A test generator program, tgM2, for Modula-2 > The GuideMaker program on OS4Depot > The LoggerWindow program on OS4Depot > The compiler compiles itself. > The Capture Challenge for programmers. It goes without saying the compiler is not competitive with GCC for PPC code optimization, but it does a good job of creating correct machine code for a correct Modula-2 program. Modula-2 is certainly a relatively "obscure" (at least in the U.S) language, but far from a dead one. A number of compilers are available without cost for different platforms. There is an ISO standard and most newer compilers, including AgletM2PPC, cleave closely enough to the standard to achieve good portability. It does offer some things you don't get with GNU C: A better approach to building modular software - You don't have to spend 50% of your development time figuring out why your "make" file does not work. :) A cleaner, simpler language than C, offering a better type system, more rational array handling, much better design for modular programming supporting Abstract Data Types and much greater opportunity to change module implementations without propagating complexity and uncertainty. Included Amiga oriented support modules designed to enable you to effectively start using Intuition, Reaction, etc, without having to become an expert in all the details - Direct calls to all Amiga Libraries are available, but intermediate modules from Aglet like "SimpleGUI", "SimpleRequesters", "SimpleImageHander", "SimpleRexx", and "AmigaTimer" expose a straightforward interface to common needs. If you do have a the GoldEd (and the Cubic package), do visit OS4 Depot and download Frank Ruthe's materials for a very nice extended integration of M2 into GoldEd 8. Filed as "development/ide/agletm2cubic.lha" It includes a very detailed description of how to setup the various features of GoldEd for this purpose, and also some nice M2 icons. URL: http://os4depot.net/share/development/ide/agletm2cubic_lha.readme.