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- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
- January 26, 1987
-
- BORLAND CHALLENGES ALL PLAYERS WITH TURBO C: OFFERS FASTEST OPTIMIZING C
- COMPILER FOR MICROCOMPUTERS AT $99.95
-
- ----------------------------------------------------
- Programmers Can Compile From Command Line Interface Or From Borland's
- Integrated Environment
-
- SCOTTS VALLEY, Calif. -- Programmers embarking on serious
- software development projects, and novices taking their first
- crack at the C programming language, can harness the power of new
- Turbo C from Borland International, Inc. The new language
- development system compiles at a fast 7000 lines of code per
- minute. Turbo C is the only optimizing C compiler for
- microcomputers that provides end users with a choice of using
- either a conventional-style command line interface; or the
- integrated environment that Borland has become known for,
- complete with built-in editor, compiler and Linker.
-
- Turbo C provides a one-pass compiler, full control of memory
- models, and extensive code optimizations. In benchmark tests
- (attached), Turbo C generates the fastest, smallest object code.
- Turbo C has a built-in Turbo linker, also provided as a
- standalone program for use in the command line mode.
-
- According to Borland president Philippe Kahn, "People use C
- because of the conciseness and flexibility of the language...and
- Turbo C is best described as a high level language tool that
- delivers programming control at the low end as well. We are proud
- to repeat the concept of Turbo Pascal, by delivering a lightning
- fast compiler and a feature-rich development environment at a
- fraction of the cost of what might be considered as a comparable
- offering."
-
- Turbo C's Compiler and Linker
-
-
- Turbo C is a single-pass compiler that generates intermediate
- data structures in memory. In contrast, most C compilers are four
- or five-pass compilers that compile using temporary files on
- disk. Turbo C compiles to memory at fast raw compile times
- exceeding 7000 lines/minute on a 6 MHz IBM PC AT.
-
- Turbo C supports 6 memory models: Tiny, Small, Compact, Medium,
- Large, Huge. Near pointers and far pointers allow the programmer
- to take full advantage of the 8086 microprocessor's architecture
- with the mixed model technique employed in Turbo C.
-
- A fast linker, like that implemented in Turbo Prolog, is
- compatible with the DOS linker and links approximately two to ten
- times faster than the DOS linker while it is about one-fifth the
- size.
-
- Turbo C features a built-in LINT with extensive error checking
- for streamlined development and debugging; and full support of
- ANSI prototypes. Optional Pascal calling conventions have been
- included for added efficiency and optimization power.
-
- A full range of Compiler options are provided including inline
- assembler, multiple levels of optimization, generation of
- 80186/80286/8087 instructions, warning supression, and multiple
- memory models. Compiler optimizations include automatic register
- assignment and common sub-expression elimination.
-
-
- In Support of Industry Standards for C
- and Runtime Libraries
-
- Turbo C implements the forthcoming ANSI C standard and delivers
- full support of Kernighan and Ritchie C. Special extensions for
- the PC environment include six memory models; and extensions for
- mixed-language, mixed-model programming. Support for software
- interrupt functions, and unique support for inline assembler, are
- both implemented in Turbo C.
-
- The Turbo C library includes standard functions and support for
- the IEEE Floating Point standard (with software emulation if no
- 8087 is present). Support for UNIX compatibile library routines,
- and supplemental functions for DOS and BIOS calls are also
- included in the library for Turbo C.
-
-
- The Development Environment
-
- Turbo C features a pull down menu environment that is the
- hallmark of other widely-used Borland language tools such as
- Turbo Prolog and the forthcoming Turbo Basic. Because Turbo C
- also comes complete with a command line version, professional C
- programmers and software developers can select compile options
- from the command line, from the integrated environment or from a
- configuration file; without the need to set environment
- variables.
-
- The integrated environment in Turbo C supports an automatic
- Make/Project Facility designed for managing program development.
- A separate Make program is provided for the command line version.
- This Facility compiles all modules in a project, or recompiles
- only the modules that have been modified since last compiled.
-
- The Run operation within the integrated environment will
- recompile all necessary files, generate the executable code and
- run the program, then return back to the user interface (UI).
-
- Two tiled, zoomable windows -- the Editor Window and the Message
- Window -- can be invoked within the editor; and the user can
- toggle between these windows with a hot key.
-
- In the Editor Window, a full screen editor is provided with
- insert/overwrite, auto-indent, and block copy, move, read, write,
- and delete along with many other functions.
-
- In the Message Window, warnings and compiler error messages can
- be turned off selectively at different levels. Turbo C steps
- through multiple errors, and the interactive editor automatically
- positions the cursor in the source code at the point of error.
-
- The integrated help system in Turbo C is an abbreviated form of
- the reference manual, showing declarations and descriptions of
- all library functions for the large reference libraries commonly
- associated with the C language.
-
- The Turbo C User Manual
-
- Turbo C's user manual is designed with special sections for both
- experienced programmers, and for novice C programmers. The manual
- contains a tutorial section on Turbo C for Turbo Pascal users
- learning to program in C.
-
- Borland International, Inc., was founded as a company devoted to
- the development of superior language tools. The company's major
- language development software includes Turbo Pascal, Turbo
- Prolog, Turbo Basic and now Turbo C, and their accompanying
- Toolbox products. Turbo Pascal and Turbo Prolog are the leading
- language tools in their respective categories. Both Turbo Basic
- and Turbo C are scheduled for delivery beginning in the first
- half of 1987.
-
- Turbo C will be available for $99.95 (suggested retail price)
- either directly from Borland, or through its distributors and
- dealers worldwide. For more information, contact Borland
- International, 4585 Scotts Valley Drive, Scotts Valley, CA,
- 95066. Telephone (408) 438-8400.
-
- Benchmarks
- ----------
-
- Sieve benchmark (25 iterations)
- -------------------------------
-
- Turbo C Microsoft C
-
- Compile Time 3.89 16.37
- Compile and Link Time 9.94 29.06
- Execution Time 5.77 9.51
- Object Code Size 274 297
-
-
- Dhrystone benchmark
- -------------------
-
- Turbo C Microsoft C
-
- Compile Time 5.93 30.70
- Compile and Link Time 10.60 44.22
- Execution Speed(Dhrystones/second) 1282 1240
- Object Code Size 1164 1375
-
-
- Benchmarks run on a 6 mhz IBM AT using Turbo C version 1.0 and
- the Turbo Linker version 1.0; Microsoft C version 4.0 and the MS
- overlay linker version 3.51.
-
- - END -