Press Release: 1992-12-01: "Of interest" by Tami Zemel of Dr. Dobb's Journal

This is an unaltered copy of a press release, for use as a primary source on Sega Retro. Please do not edit the contents below. Language: English Original source: www.drdobbs.com (archived)

Sierra Systems has released version 3.00 of its C cross-compiler and language-development system for Motorola 68000 microprocessors. The new version includes a hole-compression optimization utility that operates as follows: The linker determines on the first pass when a more compact addressing mode can be used and passes this information to the assembler, which makes a second pass and shrinks the appropriate address holes; the application is then relinked.

Optimization techniques such as loop invariant removal, common subexpression removal, global register allocation by coloring, and register scorecarding are included, obviating the need for assembly language. Also new to this version are: inclusion of the Phar Lap DOS-Extender, floating-point enhancements, enhanced implementation of multiplication by constant, a string-copy function, and improved function-call stack cleanup.

Sierra C includes an optimizing compiler, assembler, linker, absolute address mapper, object librarian and source archiver, symbol-table listing utility, object-code size utility, command driver, parallel downloader, serial downloader, and runtime library. It costs $2000.00 for DOS or OS/2 and $3500.00 for UNIX workstations. Reader service no. 26.

Sierra Systems 6728 Evergreen Avenue Oakland, CA 94611 800-776-4888 or 510-339-8200