Re: C vs. Hyper C

[dempson@swell.actrix.gen.nz (David Empson)]

In article <Sep26.192236.23776@yuma.ACNS.ColoState.EDU> jr251693@LANCE.ColoState.Edu (James Darrel Riddle) writes:
> 
> 	What is the difference between say Orca C and Hyper C?
> 	I'm asking from a source code point of view.

There are two main types of C compilers.

The first type is based on the original official definition of the C
language, in the book "The C Programming Language" (1st edition), by
Brian Kernighan and Dennis Ritchie, published by Prentice Hall in
1978.  This book is usually called "K&R" for short, and a C compiler
based on this book is referred to as a "K&R" C compiler.

There were several extensions to the C language after this book was
written.  Several K&R C compilers implement some of these new
features.

In the mid-1980s, the ANSI C standard was released.  This standardised
the definition of the language.  Compilers written since then are
usually compatible with this standard, and are called "ANSI C"
compilers.  ANSI C compilers are generally able to compile older C
code (based on the K&R standard) but the reverse is not true.

Another feature of ANSI C compilers is reasonable standardisation of
the C library calls.  You can expect the same basic set of calls
across all ANSI C compilers.  Non-ANSI C compilers usually implement
most of them, but there may be differences.

ORCA/C is an ANSI C compiler.  Hyper C is not.

I haven't done any work in Hyper C, but from a quick scan of the
documentation it looks like it is a K&R C compiler with several
extensions (such as enumerated types and structure assignment, and
several other non-standard ones).

> 	The reason I ask is that I HAVE NEVER PROGRAMMED IN C.
> 	I need to know what books would help in this reguard.
> 	Will just any C book help?

Pass - I've only read the first edition of K&R (see above).  Everything
else I've picked up along the way or by reading manuals for various C
compilers.

The Hyper C documentation recommends reading K&R.  I can't offer an
opinion on the second edition, but the first edition was good enough
to get me started on C.  Note: I was already an accomplished Pascal
and assembly language programmer at the time, which helped.

(Oh, all right.  I'll also admit to BASIC and LOGO.)  :-)
-- 
David Empson                                                               
dempson@swell.actrix.gen.nz                                                
Snail mail: P.O. Box 27-103, Wellington, New Zealand