Best C++ compiler for DOS programs

[Steve]

I have to develop several large and complex C++ hardware test programs that
should work under DOS, most likely with 32-bit DOS extender. Development
workstation OS would be Microsoft XP. Quite some time ago I worked in DOS,
with Borland BC++ 4.1. I do not have it any more. Which compiler would you
recommend me now? Which ones support serious DOS program development?
Criterion should be number of available free library modules (graphic menu
system, mouse driver, I/O), ease of development, price (maybe free?),
current and future support. If compiled program can work in DOS window under
XP, at least for some early testing, that would be fine also.

So far I have found free Watcom, Digital Mars and DJGPP compilers

http://www.digitalmars.com/
http://www.openwatcom.org/index.php/Main_Page
http://www.delorie.com/djgpp/

Which one of these, or other free compilers, is best? What about commercial
compilers? Are they worth the money for DOS development? What would you
recommend me?

Steve.

[Diego Martins]

do you know C++ compilers that generates Z80 binaries? :-)

[Benry]

nope. But if you get rid of your classes and start writing "extern" in
various locations, you can use http://tack.sourceforge.net/

I don't know though. Not familiar wiht z80.

-Benry
Diego Martins wrote:

do you know C++ compilers that generates Z80 binaries? :-)

[Default User]

Diego Martins wrote:

do you know C++ compilers that generates Z80 binaries? :-)

A quick Google search turns up a number of C compilers that
cross-compile to Z80. I'm sure if I looked long enough there'd be a C++
one in there.

Brian

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[William J. Leary Jr.]

"Default User" <de***********@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:4b*************@individual.net...

Diego Martins wrote:

do you know C++ compilers that generates Z80 binaries? :-)

A quick Google search turns up a number of C compilers that
cross-compile to Z80. I'm sure if I looked long enough there'd be a C++
one in there.

If not, and you don't need full (current) C++, using CFRONT to output to your
Z80 targeted C compiler might do the job.

- Bill

[Chris Hills]

In article <11*********************@v46g2000cwv.googlegroups. com>, Diego
Martins <jo********@gmail.com> writes

do you know C++ compilers that generates Z80 binaries? :-)

No.

They found it wasn't practical. A cut down version of C++ has been
used on some 8 bit micros but it is not very effective.

Why do you want C++ on the Z80 anyway. C is far better suited.

There are several C compilers for the Z80

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[Michal Necasek]

A few misc notes...

Walter is right, there is no interest in commercial DOS compilers
these days. I know that several large and well known hardware and
software vendors still develop DOS applications, mostly for custom
'close to the metal' applications. But they're not about to actually pay
money to get some compiler development done.

Digital Mars and Open Watcom support both 16-bit and 32-bit
development, which may be extremely helpful on DOS.

Open Watcom C++ support isn't as good as it could be, but it's better
than it used to be and probably perfectly adequate for an app developed
from scratch.

Open Watcom comes with several DOS extenders: DOS/4GW is old and
unsupported but works and is royalty-free. CauseWay is public domain,
works well and complete source code is available. DOS/32A is very good,
also free and with source code available. There is a bunch of other DOS
extenders that can be used with Open Watcom (HX-DOS, PMODE/W, etc.).

Don't know about the other compilers but Open Watcom also has a pretty
good DOS debugger - it's actually also easy to cross debug from other
platforms (Windows, OS/2, with a little bit of hand holding Linux).
Personally, I'd go for a cross compiler - DOS sucks to develop on,
though it has advantages as a specialized application platform.

Whether the DOS app works in a NT DOS box is entirely a function of
the application, not the compiler. Some things just won't work in a VDM
and after all, if you could run the app in Windows, you wouldn't be
developing a DOS program.
Michal