Re: DOS GNAT or Win95/NT GNAT? (Ada 95)

[dewar@merv.cs.nyu.edu (Robert Dewar)]

Jerry said

<<1. Win95 is at 3.09, while DOS is at 3.07>>

     This is due to a DJGPP bug, and we do not know when this might
     be fixed. It affects only debugging of tasking programs, but the
     effect is severe.

<<2. Win95 supports long file names, the DOS version doesn't (yet)>>

     There are no plans to support long file names in the DOS version
     of GNAT. At this stage, no DOS specific enhancements of GNAT are
     likely, though new versions will appear from time.

<<3. The DOS versions underlying gcc port (DJGPP) is very well tested,
   documented and supported. The Win95 version isn't documented in
   practical terms.>>

     The documentation for the Windows version is essentially the same
     as the documentation for any other version of GNAT, and may be
     obtained from the FTP site.

<<4. The DOS version gives you access to the underlying machine, the Win95
   requires a special ($$$) SDK and writing you own bindings.>>

     You do not require the SDK unless you are going to interface to
     Win32 (the requirement here is not technical, it is a copyright
     issue, the Win32 bindings themselves do not technically require
     the SDK).

<<Yes, if you manage to get the proper Win32 bindings, have an resource
  compiler, and don't run into the infamous ld bug, you can use the GDI
  from GNAT. Whether or not it is easy depends on your Win95 experience,
  this is not Ada related.>>

    The ld problem is finally fixed, and we hope to make a public release
    of this fixed version in the near future. Meanwhile, a LOT of programs,
    especially small programs do not run into this ld bug (for example 100%
    of the ACVC tests run without encountering this problem).

<<>Also, does the DOS version allow multiple tasks? Yes.>>

   Note that these tasks in DOS are I/O blocing, In Win95 they are
   system threads.