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>> Which TC+DOS make very easy.
Please tell me how that would work? I wrote code for microcontrollers with a mix between MSVC and the microchip's software. I don't see the point in using command line compilers when it's so much easier to press a button to compile and build.
Writing something for micro-controllers has nothing to do with TC. Turbo C is a so called C compiler, nothing more.Quote:
This is solely due to the reason that the students are Electrical/Mechanical major, and they need to write code for micro controllers etc.
And also so buggy. If you really want to kindle with ports, use ASM. You need a simple assembler. The functions provided by TC namely outport, inport are nothing but non standard implementations over a platform which is no longer supported natively by the operating systems. Again, it has nothing to do with the C compiler that we are talking about. You can access ports with the same amount of simplicity on linux using gcc.Quote:
So simple to kindle with serial/parallel ports.
That depends on what college you are in. We are provided with 'advanced' compilers only in our final year of graduation and I am assuming it was the same with you. If not, you were lucky :)Quote:
And where it really matters the students doing Computer Science major, they use MSVC.
You wanna test a simple LED based electric circuit. Ok. Attach it to parallel port. Run in DOS. Use the simplicity of a DOS based compiler. And be done with it. All such type of simple electronics projects, cheaper also.Quote:
Originally Posted by twomers
The benefit is it runs under DOS. A bare bones OS. Very useful for your own kindling with hardware and all that. Especially with simple projects interfacing with PC.Quote:
Originally Posted by PING
Assembly is harder to use. Plus all the stuff can be done using some functions in TCQuote:
And also so buggy. If you really want to kindle with ports, use ASM. You need a simple assembler. The functions provided by TC namely outport, inport are nothing but non standard implementations over a platform which is no longer supported natively by the operating systems. Again, it has nothing to do with the C compiler that we are talking about. You can access ports with the same amount of simplicity on linux using gcc.
that directly change registers, make int requests, write to ports and to memory also. Plus you can very easily draw a nice interface using graphics lib available from TC.
Ist year - C/C++Quote:
That depends on what college you are in. We are provided with 'advanced' compilers only in our final year of graduation and I am assuming it was the same with you. If not, you were lucky :)
IInd year - VB, Java, Perl
IIIrd year - Net working, DB and such stuff
So does DJGPP and it is at least more compliant.Quote:
Originally Posted by manav
The issue of DOS is not simplicity. The issue of DOS is lack of investment by the university on new equipments and software. And this alone derives mostly from the fact many universities don't recycle their teachers, being traditionally a stale environment drawn by antiquity, long time friendships, favors and everything else that a university shouldn't be. I know... I worked in one.
The reason TC and Visual C++ 6.0 are so widely spread in universities is because your teachers where using it in their days and they didn't kept on pace with the developments. They aren't particularly good compilers, they aren't particularly useful or offer special features that help teaching. There's no educational value to them. But if you were to have MSVC, GCC, Watcom or Digital Mars, you would probably be out of teachers.
>> You wanna test a simple LED based electric circuit. Ok. Attach it to parallel port. Run in DOS. Use the simplicity of a DOS based compiler. And be done with it. All such type of simple electronics projects, cheaper also.
I know flashing LEDs are important parts of electronics and all, but you'll want a lot more than a parallel port if you're going to be doing anything interesting. And where does a uC come into your LEDs? Easiest thing to do when debugging something even slightly awkward is program the controller, with pre-processor debugging stuff* and have it send (via parallel/serial/usb), messages with flags in certain places in the code and read them on the PC as they come. Diagnose the problems, and fix 'em. Hardware debugging is much more difficult (I've found), than software debugging. But much more rewarding once the thing is finished - you've got something that physically operates by itself.
* By which I mean:Code://#define DEBUGGING_PROJECT
//...
// Somewhere in a function or something
#ifdef DEBUGGING_PROJECT
rs232_send( "something" );
#endif
I really don't see the point of using TC 3.0 unless you are writing code for an 80x88 uC. Most common microcontrollers have GUI based compilers. I think the reason they use it is because its free, although with VS express out now thats a dubious reason.
I can agree with this as being a problem, not having worked in a university yet I can't say oen way or the other if this happens, but i suspect it does at least to some extent. Universities should use the model that West Point uses. Only use your most successful commanders to teach, and do not have them teach for more than 2 years without rotating them back into the field. This keeps them from getting out of touch with new developments. This woudl be a bit of a problem with industry, because universities cant order the best and the brightest to come teach. Businesses however could require teaching experience for advancement. This woudl benefit them on several levels. One, it would reduce entrenchment, where a guy who is good enough to do his job, but not to advance blocks lower level workers from getting the experience they need to move past him. By requireing him to go teach, they would open the position for at least 2 years. Two, it would serve as a vetting tool, if the guy can't teach, then he isnt teaching his subordinates and isnt being an effective manager even if he is holding the ship together. Three, it woudl make sure that the new recruitsd are beign taught the latest methods. As is they learn outdated techniques, and the company ends up retraining them anyway. How effective they do this falls back on number 2, how well their superior can teach.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mario F.
Generalize much?Quote:
Originally Posted by mike_g
I don't see what's wrong with using TC to learn with. Unless you're learning C++. :p