Re:Rust: Not So Great For Codec Implementing
by WalterBright on Tuesday August 01, 2017 @09:18PM
(#14907101)
There were probably 30 C compilers for the IBM PC. Turbo C didn't appear until 1987, it was quite a latecomer. C was immensely popular on the C before then.
Borland produced Turbo C not to introduce C to the PC, but because C was so dominant on that platform. After all, why would they have done that after being so successful with Turbo Pascal?
Re:Rust: Not So Great For Codec Implementing
by WalterBright on Tuesday August 01, 2017 @09:25PM
(#14907139)
The Aug 1986 issue of Dr. Dobb's lists:
* Aztec C
* C86
* Datalight C (mine!)
* DeSmet C
* Eco-C88
* Hot C
* IBM C
* Lattice C
* C Prog Sys
* Let's C
* High C
* Microsoft C
* Mix X
* Toolworks C
* Whitesmiths C
* Wizard C
PC Tech Journal reviewed 8 C compilers for DOS in their Nov-Dec 1983 issue, though I don't have a copy of it.
On the early days of DOS, what was used the most was IBM-BASIC (and GW-BASIC) for users, assembler for games like Alley Cat, IBM LOGO for teaching, some games were made on FIG-FORTH even
Then borland brought Turbo Pascal which was hugely popular together with MS QuickBasic.
Meanwhile, and we're at 1986-7, a good amount of software was already made for the Unices, in C. I don't think anyone was doing C for DOS back then. My grandpa -a PC nerd- had a huge (200+) collection of diskettes around that era, which now I own, there are all sorts of compilers for the above languages, plus Fortran, Clipper, etc; but no C compiler. Even though he owned the K&R book.
First time i saw use of C on the DOS world was with Borland Turbo C++.