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From: gmckee@cloudnine.com (Gary McKee)
Subject: Re: Building an Ada compiler
Date: 1996/06/30
Message-ID: <ADFC63A8966816CF1@p8.denver2.dialup.csn.net>#1/1
X-Deja-AN: 162997351
references: <4r023h$jt2@newsbf02.news.aol.com> <Dtppz2.4DM@world.std.com>
 <4mybl7kdal.fsf@pares.gsyc.inf.uc3m.es>
organization: McKee Consulting (Software Assessment)
newsgroups: comp.lang.ada
Date: 1996-06-30T00:00:00+00:00
List-Id: <comp.lang.ada>


In article <4mybl7kdal.fsf@pares.gsyc.inf.uc3m.es>,
raul@pares.gsyc.inf.uc3m.es (Raul Barral Tamayo) wrote:

 >   Only a a couple of words :-), the idea behind GCC is a portable
compiler
 >  with the only need to change the front-end to incorporate a new
language
 >  and the back-end to add a new architecture so I think you could use the

 >  GNAT front-end and you could make a Mac back-end, about this last I
have
 >  only heard about a language to describe it something similar to
lex/yacc.
 > 
 >  My 0.02$, raul.
 > 
 > In article <Dtppz2.4DM@world.std.com> bobduff@world.std.com (Robert A
Duff)
 > writes:
 >    In article <4r023h$jt2@newsbf02.news.aol.com>, ErkoDJK
<erkodjk@aol.com>
 > wrote:
 >    >Some friends and I have a crazy idea.  We want to build an Ada 95
compiler
 >    >targeted for the Macintosh computer (without requiring Unix, like
 >    >GNAT/GCC).  To that end, I would like to ask the Ada and compiler
experts
 >    >here (and anyone else who wishes to respond) for some information,
 >    >including, just how insane are we?
---------------------------------------------------------------
Our team is the one that is currently porting the GNAT compiler to MachTen
UNIX on the Macintosh and we examined the feasibility of targeting MPW
instead of MachTen. Our decision to use MachTen was largely predicated on
the cost-saving that we obtained by using the excellent capabilities that
MachTen provided (especially GCC).

IMHO, MPW is essentially a UNIX lookalike with less capability so a port of
GNAT should be possible. Here are some things to consider:

1) GNAT requires GCC (or equivalent);

2) GCC requires an existing C compiler to start the bootstrap of GCC;

3) The initial GNAT bootstrap is (traditionally) a "cross-compile" from
another system;

4) Our team may be willing, informally, to answer questions about our GNAT
port
   if you decide to go this route;

5) with Tenon's new pricing, MPW is no longer significantly less expensive.

Please do keep us informed if you decide to go this route, the more good
Ada compilers on the market, the better for us all!