← Back to context

Comment by pjmlp

8 hours ago

Or any other compiled language for that matter. :)

It is, but some tools like Turbo C did provide asm generating switch (-S AFAIK) directly you to use and saved you from using debug.com or any better disassembler.

  • As did many other compiled languages including those predating C, people should stop putting it on pedestal.

    Fortran 77 manual for UNIX, https://www.unix.com/man_page/v7/1/f77

    You can find plenty of other examples, when doing digital archaeology.

    • Sure, it wasn't uncommon feature at all, but many fellows I knew had not noticed it before I suggested using it when a colleague or a friend was wondering how he would write that function assembler and try to make it faster.

      It tells me more about some people not being curious enough to read documents and explore environment they work than others apparently.

      Assembler generating was long time a standard feature of compilers simply because writing the assembler code was easier than directly runnable or linkable object code. And for language designer and compiler programmer it was easier to read verifying correct code generating that way. Why bother writing assembly compiler, linker etc. when you usually already had them in the system that time.

      Then later it changed bit as vendors did not any more ship any or just some crippled compliers to compile just a new kernel with the base system to curb their language competition. Which made third party compilers had to either provide with complete set their own creating executables or ask buyer also licensing system vendor compiler toolkit which they would not otherwise need. That then caused prospect third party compiler customer add that licensing fee top of offering and compared which option they would buy if any. That was time when developement toolkits started changing. Under MS-DOS there never was compiler shipped with it that was a situation all the time, but with the minis and larger systems more what described here above.

      ps. I think you get much too wound up about C-language. For a long time there was no real alternative use to cross environments compatible way developing thing without major rewrite each platform. That what mattered more than anything else then and in some sense also to some these days also. And no language needs to be put on pedestal like you wrote message you already changed or deleted so that I did not get to answer.

      2 replies →