Borland C++ 2.0 Manuals (Thousands of Pages) Review

You know Borland C++ 2.0 bundle comes with a C++ compiler, an assembler for machine language, a debugger for looking at machine codes, and also a profiler for looking at bottlenecks in performances in eleven 3.5-inch diskettes plus thousands of pages of notes on how to use them all. I have to say Borland is one of the easiest manuals to follow however you have to put in a tremendous amount of work in learning efforts. I remember reading another Borland manuals years ago and I spent hours a day sponging up the materials. However you have to put in the efforts too. You can't just read and have it sink in. You have to actually sit down by your computer and try out the examples. Reading through one of the chapters makes me fall asleep. However when I try to accomplish a task it makes time goes by so much faster. One problem took 5 hours yet seems like it was just minutes ago. Learning how to compile and actually make it work is the hardest part. However one thing I have against Borland is that it doesn't have a supplementing Windows section. Apparently Borland likes to just show that it can program in Microsoft Windows however the resources for that are from Microsoft. So to avoid copyright infringement Borland doesn't step over their boundaries. All and all I'd give it 100% for C++ material. However Windows materials is better left for Microsoft documentations elsewhere. It just contains the barest minimum to show it is possible to produce a 32-bit Windows program however it doesn't go into detail and explicitly states you need information from Microsoft to do the Windows programming. For instance all the Headers and such are proprietary to Microsoft when concerning Windows programming. It only touches briefly and shows 1 brief example. A fun trivia is that if I vaguely recall correctly the originator of C++ was quotes in one of the thick books. I remember he says something along the fact of modules or something rather and joking how much he thinks C++ is better.

Now on the 16-bit side. It allows backward compatibility with MS-DOS architeture. You can do assembly language along side C++. It also allows backwards compatibility to many instances with C too. So Borland C++ 2.0 "bundle" if you can find it is worth the money.

>> So Borland C++ 2.0 "bundle" if you can find it is worth the money.
If you are a museum curator - perhaps...

If you are a developer - far, far, far superior solutions exist :
Overview of Visual Studio 2015 Products
Code::Blocks

gg

Simple File Sharing and Storage.

If you ever want to see my programming book collections....................................... .................................................. or so.

Your collection would be most appreciated here: Donate Artifacts | Computer History Museum

gg

If I didn't have a need I would donate it, but I still can do algebra on it like this: OUTPUT58 ... Besides if I donate it I wouldn't have anything left to program. I'm too old to learn something new much more. I'm lucky if I get a page read a day. So the oldies seems to be a part of me since I'm an older crowd too.

No is going to download your EXE, much less run it. Post the source code here if you want to show something.

gg

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Codeplug

No is going to download your EXE, much less run it. Post the source code here if you want to show something.

gg

---

File ASM.ASM:

Code:

---

p8086
model small
dataseg
xposAH DB 0
xposAL DB 0
yposAH DB 0
yposAL DB 0
cpos DB 0
udataseg
codeseg
startupcode

PUBLIC _plotdot

_plotdot PROC
mov cx, 1
mov dx, 1
mov ah, 0dh
int 10h
mov ah, 0
mov xposAL, al

mov cx, 2
mov dx, 1
mov ah, 0dh
int 10h
mov ah, 0
mov xposAH, al

mov cx, 1
mov dx, 2
mov ah, 0dh
int 10h
mov ah, 0
mov yposAL, al

mov cx, 2
mov dx, 2
mov ah, 0dh
int 10h
mov ah, 0
mov yposAH, al

mov cx, 1
mov dx, 3
mov ah, 0dh
int 10h
mov ah, 0
mov cpos, al

mov ah, 0ch
mov cl, xposAL
mov ch, xposAH
mov dl, yposAL
mov dh, yposAH
int 10h

ret
_plotdot ENDP

end

---

FILE: ccallasm.asm

Code:

---

    ifndef    ??version
?debug    macro
    endm
    endif
    ?debug    S "ccallasm.c"
_TEXT    segment    byte public 'CODE'
DGROUP    group    _DATA,_BSS
    assume    cs:_TEXT,ds:DGROUP,ss:DGROUP
_TEXT    ends
_DATA    segment word public 'DATA'
d@    label    byte
d@w    label    word
_DATA    ends
_BSS    segment word public 'BSS'
b@    label    byte
b@w    label    word
    ?debug    C E97D66DE480A6363616C6C61736D2E63
    ?debug    C E9D0B06A4811633A5C494E434C5544455C6D6174682E68
    ?debug    C E9D1B06A4813633A5C494E434C5544455C7374646C69622E68
    ?debug    C E9D1B06A4812633A5C494E434C5544455C737464696F2E68
    ?debug    C E9D1B06A4813633A5C494E434C5544455C7374646172672E68
    ?debug    C E9D0B06A4812633A5C494E434C5544455C636F6E696F2E68
_BSS    ends
_DATA    segment word public 'DATA'
_DATA    ends
_TEXT    segment    byte public 'CODE'
;    ?debug    L 12
_intro    proc    near
    push    bp
    mov    bp,sp
    sub    sp,4
;    ?debug    L 15
    mov    ax,offset DGROUP:s@
    push    ax
    call    near ptr _system
    pop    cx
;    ?debug    L 16
    mov    ax,offset DGROUP:s@+4
    push    ax
    call    near ptr _printf
    pop    cx
;    ?debug    L 17
    mov    ax,offset DGROUP:s@+32
    push    ax
    call    near ptr _printf
    pop    cx
;    ?debug    L 18
    mov    ax,offset DGROUP:s@+57
    push    ax
    call    near ptr _printf
    pop    cx
;    ?debug    L 19
    mov    ax,offset DGROUP:s@+60
    push    ax
    call    near ptr _printf
    pop    cx
;    ?debug    L 20
    mov    ax,offset DGROUP:s@+103
    push    ax
    call    near ptr _printf
    pop    cx
;    ?debug    L 21
    mov    ax,offset DGROUP:s@+126
    push    ax
    call    near ptr _printf
    pop    cx
;    ?debug    L 22
    mov    ax,offset DGROUP:s@+170
    push    ax
    call    near ptr _printf
    pop    cx
;    ?debug    L 23
    mov    ax,offset DGROUP:s@+209
    push    ax
    call    near ptr _printf
    pop    cx
;    ?debug    L 24
    lea    ax,word ptr [bp-4]
    push    ax
    mov    ax,offset DGROUP:s@+222
    push    ax
    call    near ptr _scanf
    pop    cx
    pop    cx
;    ?debug    L 25
    cmp    word ptr [bp-2],15258
    jb    @2
    ja    @3
    cmp    word ptr [bp-4],-13824
    jbe    @2
@3:
;    ?debug    L 27
    mov    word ptr [bp-2],15258
    mov    word ptr [bp-4],-13824
@2:
;    ?debug    L 29
    mov    dx,word ptr [bp-2]
    mov    ax,word ptr [bp-4]
    jmp    short @1
@1:
;    ?debug    L 30
    mov    sp,bp
    pop    bp
    ret   
_intro    endp
;    ?debug    L 32
_pause    proc    near
    push    bp
    mov    bp,sp
    sub    sp,4
;    ?debug    L 36
    mov    word ptr [bp-2],0
    mov    word ptr [bp-4],0
    jmp    short @8
@7:
;    ?debug    L 38
    add    word ptr [bp-4],1
    adc    word ptr [bp-2],0
;    ?debug    L 39
    sub    word ptr [bp-4],1
    sbb    word ptr [bp-2],0
@6:
    add    word ptr [bp-4],1
    adc    word ptr [bp-2],0
@8:
    mov    dx,word ptr [bp-2]
    mov    ax,word ptr [bp-4]
    cmp    dx,word ptr [bp+6]
    jb    @7
    jne    @9
    cmp    ax,word ptr [bp+4]
    jb    @7
@9:
@5:
@4:
;    ?debug    L 42
    mov    sp,bp
    pop    bp
    ret   
_pause    endp
;    ?debug    L 44
_plotcircle    proc    near
    push    bp
    mov    bp,sp
    sub    sp,54
    push    si
;    ?debug    L 50
    mov    word ptr [bp-42],16393
    mov    word ptr [bp-44],7864
    mov    word ptr [bp-46],20971
    mov    word ptr [bp-48],-31457
;    ?debug    L 51
    FLD    qword ptr DGROUP:s@+226
    FMUL    qword ptr [bp-48]
    FSTP    qword ptr [bp-40]
    FWAIT   
;    ?debug    L 52
    FLD    qword ptr [bp-40]
    FDIV    qword ptr DGROUP:s@+234
    FSTP    qword ptr [bp-8]
    FWAIT   
;    ?debug    L 54
    mov    word ptr [bp-18],16483
    mov    word ptr [bp-20],24576
    mov    word ptr [bp-22],0
    mov    word ptr [bp-24],0
;    ?debug    L 55
    mov    word ptr [bp-10],16473
    mov    word ptr [bp-12],0
    mov    word ptr [bp-14],0
    mov    word ptr [bp-16],0
;    ?debug    L 56
    mov    si,80
;    ?debug    L 58
    mov    word ptr [bp-50],1
;    ?debug    L 60
    mov    word ptr [bp-26],0
    mov    word ptr [bp-28],0
    mov    word ptr [bp-30],0
    mov    word ptr [bp-32],0
    jmp    @14
@13:
;    ?debug    L 62
    push    word ptr [bp+6]
    push    word ptr [bp+4]
    call    near ptr _pause
    pop    cx
    pop    cx
;    ?debug    L 64
    push    word ptr [bp-26]
    push    word ptr [bp-28]
    push    word ptr [bp-30]
    push    word ptr [bp-32]
    call    near ptr _cos
    add    sp,8
    mov    ax,si
    cwd   
    push    dx
    push    ax
    FILD    dword ptr [bp-60]
    FWAIT   
    add    sp,4
    FMUL   
    FADD    qword ptr [bp-24]
    call    far ptr FTOL@
    mov    word ptr [bp-54],ax
;    ?debug    L 65
    push    word ptr [bp-26]
    push    word ptr [bp-28]
    push    word ptr [bp-30]
    push    word ptr [bp-32]
    call    near ptr _sin
    add    sp,8
    mov    ax,si
    cwd   
    push    dx
    push    ax
    FILD    dword ptr [bp-60]
    FWAIT   
    add    sp,4
    FMUL   
    FADD    qword ptr [bp-16]
    call    far ptr FTOL@
    mov    word ptr [bp-52],ax
;    ?debug    L 67
    mov    bx, [bp-54]
;    ?debug    L 68
    mov    al, bl
;    ?debug    L 69
    mov    ah, 0ch
;    ?debug    L 70
    mov    cx, 1
;    ?debug    L 71
    mov    dx, 1
;    ?debug    L 72
    int    10h
;    ?debug    L 74
    mov    al, bh
;    ?debug    L 75
    mov    ah, 0ch
;    ?debug    L 76
    mov    cx, 2
;    ?debug    L 77
    mov    dx, 1
;    ?debug    L 78
    int    10h
;    ?debug    L 80
    mov    bx, [bp-52]
;    ?debug    L 81
    mov    al, bl
;    ?debug    L 82
    mov    ah, 0ch
;    ?debug    L 83
    mov    cx, 1
;    ?debug    L 84
    mov    dx, 2
;    ?debug    L 85
    int    10h
;    ?debug    L 87
    mov    al, bh
;    ?debug    L 88
    mov    ah, 0ch
;    ?debug    L 89
    mov    cx, 2
;    ?debug    L 90
    mov    dx, 2
;    ?debug    L 91
    int    10h
;    ?debug    L 93
    inc    word ptr [bp-50]
;    ?debug    L 94
    mov    ax,word ptr [bp-50]
    mov    bx,15
    cwd   
    idiv    bx
    inc    dx
    mov    word ptr [bp-50],dx
;    ?debug    L 95
    mov    ax, [bp-50]
;    ?debug    L 96
    mov    ah, 0ch
;    ?debug    L 97
    mov    cx, 1
;    ?debug    L 98
    mov    dx, 3
;    ?debug    L 99
    int    10h
;    ?debug    L 101
    call    near ptr _plotdot
@12:
    FLD    qword ptr [bp-32]
    FADD    qword ptr [bp-8]
    FSTP    qword ptr [bp-32]
    FWAIT   
@14:
    FLD    qword ptr [bp-32]
    FCOMP    qword ptr [bp-40]
    FSTSW    word ptr DGROUP:FLAGS8087@
    FWAIT   
    mov    ah,byte ptr DGROUP:FLAGS8087@+1
    sahf   
    jae    @15
    jmp    @13
@15:
@11:
@10:
;    ?debug    L 103
    pop    si
    mov    sp,bp
    pop    bp
    ret   
_plotcircle    endp
_TEXT    ends
_DATA    segment word public 'DATA'
_DATA    ends
_TEXT    segment    byte public 'CODE'
;    ?debug    L 105
_main    proc    near
    push    bp
    mov    bp,sp
    sub    sp,4
@17:
;    ?debug    L 110
    call    near ptr _intro
    mov    word ptr [bp-2],dx
    mov    word ptr [bp-4],ax
;    ?debug    L 111
    mov    ax,word ptr [bp-4]
    or    ax,word ptr [bp-2]
    jne    @18
;    ?debug    L 113
    jmp    short @19
@18:
;    ?debug    L 116
    mov    al, 19
;    ?debug    L 117
    mov    ah, 0
;    ?debug    L 118
    int    10h
;    ?debug    L 120
    push    word ptr [bp-2]
    push    word ptr [bp-4]
    call    near ptr _plotcircle
    pop    cx
    pop    cx
;    ?debug    L 122
    mov    ah, 0
;    ?debug    L 123
    int    16h
;    ?debug    L 125
    jmp    short @17
@19:
;    ?debug    L 127
    mov    al, 3
;    ?debug    L 128
    mov    ah, 0
;    ?debug    L 129
    int    10h
;    ?debug    L 131
    mov    ax,offset DGROUP:s@+242
    push    ax
    call    near ptr _printf
    pop    cx
;    ?debug    L 132
    mov    ax,offset DGROUP:s@+265
    push    ax
    call    near ptr _printf
    pop    cx
;    ?debug    L 134
    mov    ah, 0
;    ?debug    L 135
    int    16h
;    ?debug    L 137
    xor    ax,ax
    jmp    short @16
@16:
;    ?debug    L 138
    mov    sp,bp
    pop    bp
    ret   
_main    endp
_TEXT    ends
    ?debug    C E9
_DATA    segment word public 'DATA'
s@    label    byte
    db    99
    db    108
    db    115
    db    0
    db    10
    db    32
    db    109
    db    111
    db    109
    db    58
    db    32
    db    32
    db    72
    db    117
    db    111
    db    110
    db    103
    db    32
    db    84
    db    104
    db    105
    db    32
    db    84
    db    104
    db    117
    db    121
    db    101
    db    110
    db    32
    db    86
    db    117
    db    0
    db    10
    db    32
    db    100
    db    97
    db    100
    db    58
    db    32
    db    32
    db    78
    db    103
    db    117
    db    121
    db    101
    db    110
    db    32
    db    66
    db    105
    db    110
    db    104
    db    32
    db    84
    db    104
    db    117
    db    121
    db    0
    db    10
    db    32
    db    0
    db    10
    db    32
    db    80
    db    108
    db    101
    db    97
    db    115
    db    101
    db    32
    db    101
    db    110
    db    116
    db    101
    db    114
    db    32
    db    100
    db    101
    db    108
    db    97
    db    121
    db    32
    db    118
    db    97
    db    108
    db    117
    db    101
    db    58
    db    32
    db    40
    db    48
    db    45
    db    49
    db    48
    db    48
    db    48
    db    48
    db    48
    db    48
    db    48
    db    48
    db    48
    db    41
    db    0
    db    10
    db    32
    db    48
    db    32
    db    119
    db    105
    db    108
    db    108
    db    32
    db    101
    db    120
    db    105
    db    116
    db    32
    db    112
    db    114
    db    111
    db    103
    db    114
    db    97
    db    109
    db    46
    db    0
    db    10
    db    32
    db    65
    db    32
    db    118
    db    97
    db    108
    db    117
    db    101
    db    32
    db    116
    db    111
    db    111
    db    32
    db    108
    db    97
    db    114
    db    103
    db    101
    db    32
    db    109
    db    97
    db    121
    db    32
    db    108
    db    111
    db    99
    db    107
    db    32
    db    117
    db    112
    db    32
    db    111
    db    110
    db    32
    db    115
    db    108
    db    111
    db    119
    db    32
    db    67
    db    80
    db    85
    db    0
    db    10
    db    32
    db    84
    db    114
    db    121
    db    32
    db    49
    db    50
    db    48
    db    48
    db    48
    db    32
    db    116
    db    104
    db    101
    db    110
    db    32
    db    109
    db    111
    db    118
    db    101
    db    32
    db    97
    db    100
    db    100
    db    32
    db    48
    db    32
    db    101
    db    118
    db    101
    db    114
    db    121
    db    32
    db    116
    db    105
    db    109
    db    101
    db    0
    db    10
    db    32
    db    84
    db    104
    db    97
    db    110
    db    107
    db    32
    db    121
    db    111
    db    117
    db    46
    db    0
    db    37
    db    108
    db    117
    db    0
    db    0
    db    0
    db    0
    db    0
    db    0
    db    0
    db    0
    db    64
    db    0
    db    0
    db    0
    db    0
    db    0
    db    128
    db    118
    db    64
    db    10
    db    32
    db    83
    db    101
    db    101
    db    32
    db    121
    db    111
    db    117
    db    32
    db    110
    db    101
    db    120
    db    116
    db    32
    db    116
    db    105
    db    109
    db    101
    db    46
    db    46
    db    46
    db    0
    db    10
    db    32
    db    78
    db    69
    db    86
    db    69
    db    82
    db    32
    db    70
    db    79
    db    82
    db    71
    db    69
    db    84
    db    32
    db    71
    db    79
    db    68
    db    33
    db    0
_DATA    ends
    extrn    FLAGS8087@:word
    extrn    FIDRQQ:far
    extrn    FTOL@:far
_TEXT    segment    byte public 'CODE'
    extrn    _plotdot:near
    extrn    _system:near
    extrn    _printf:near
    extrn    _scanf:near
    extrn    _cos:near
    extrn    _sin:near
_TEXT    ends
    public    _plotcircle
    public    _intro
    public    _main
    public    _pause
    end

---

Well the program is in assembly language. You have to have the Borland proprietary software to compile these two programs into a single whole. However it produces the "OUTPUT58.exe" that runs on Windows.

Claiming a 16bit DOS EXE "runs on Windows" isn't exactly correct.

You may be running it in an NTVDM - but if that's the case, I certainly hope you aren't surfing the web with that same machine.

gg

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Codeplug

Claiming a 16bit DOS EXE "runs on Windows" isn't exactly correct.

You may be running it in an NTVDM - but if that's the case, I certainly hope you aren't surfing the web with that same machine.

gg

---

Thank you! That is kind of you. I managed to deal with the viruses for XP by disabling the internet from Windows XP. I believe NTVDM is built-in to XP natively so I believe you're right. For surfing the web I use Vista and FireFox. I haven't had any viruses since. However I keep my surfing clean. No weirdo websites if you get my drift. I believe most machines can dualboot especially back in the XP/Vista days. I did it once.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Tien Nguyen

Thank you! That is kind of you. I managed to deal with the viruses for XP by disabling the internet from Windows XP. I believe NTVDM is built-in to XP natively so I believe you're right. For surfing the web I use Vista and FireFox. I haven't had any viruses since. However I keep my surfing clean. No weirdo websites if you get my drift. I believe most machines can dualboot especially back in the XP/Vista days. I did it once.

---

I was actually doing my "homework" and experimenting on my own time so I was trying to mix a C source code with an assembly source code. I'm just experimenting with the graphics systems right now. Usually you would pass a variable through a gateway at the stack. However I am using the display screen for my stack so to speak. So when you notice there are small tiny dots in the upper left corner. Those are the actual values that are changing to circle the display screen.

FILE: ccallasm.c

Code:

---

/* Example by Tien Khoa Nguyen */

#pragma inline

#include <math.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <stdio.h>
#include <conio.h>

void extern plotdot();

unsigned long intro()
{
unsigned long delay5;
system("cls");
printf("\n mom:  Huong Thi Thuyen Vu");
printf("\n dad:  Nguyen Binh Thuy");
printf("\n ");
printf("\n Please enter delay value: (0-1000000000)");
printf("\n 0 will exit program.");
printf("\n A value too large may lock up on slow CPU");
printf("\n Try 12000 then move add 0 every time");
printf("\n Thank you.");
scanf("%lu", &delay5);
if(delay5 > 1000000000)
{
delay5 = 1000000000;
}
return(delay5);
}

void pause(unsigned long delaytime)
{
unsigned long delay2;

for(delay2 = 0; delay2 < delaytime; delay2++)
{
delay2++;
delay2--;
}

}

void plotcircle(unsigned long delay4)
{
int ix, iy, radius, color3;
double radian, fullradian, currentradian, centerx, centery;
double degree;

radian = 3.14;
fullradian = 2.0*radian;
degree = fullradian/360.0;

centerx = 155.0;
centery = 100.0;
radius = 80;

color3 = 1;

for(currentradian = 0; currentradian < fullradian; currentradian = currentradian + degree)
{
pause(delay4);

ix = (int)(centerx + (cos(currentradian)*(double)radius));
iy = (int)(centery + (sin(currentradian)*(double)radius));

asm mov bx, ix;
asm mov al, bl;
asm mov ah, 0ch;
asm mov cx, 1;
asm mov dx, 1;
asm int 10h;

asm mov al, bh;
asm mov ah, 0ch;
asm mov cx, 2;
asm mov dx, 1;
asm int 10h;

asm mov bx, iy;
asm mov al, bl;
asm mov ah, 0ch;
asm mov cx, 1;
asm mov dx, 2;
asm int 10h;

asm mov al, bh;
asm mov ah, 0ch;
asm mov cx, 2;
asm mov dx, 2;
asm int 10h;

color3++;
color3 = 1+(color3%15);
asm mov ax, color3;
asm mov ah, 0ch;
asm mov cx, 1;
asm mov dx, 3;
asm int 10h;

plotdot();
}
}

int main()
{
unsigned long delay3;

repeatprg:;
delay3 = intro();
if(delay3 == 0)
{
goto exitprg;
}

asm mov al, 19;
asm mov ah, 0;
asm int 10h;

plotcircle(delay3);

asm mov ah, 0;
asm int 16h;

goto repeatprg;
exitprg:;
asm mov al, 3;
asm mov ah, 0;
asm int 10h;

printf("\n See you next time...");
printf("\n NEVER FORGET GOD!");

asm mov ah, 0;
asm int 16h;

return(0);
}


---

The above C program has to be converted first before it could be integrated with the pure assembly one. Once again the Borland softwares are proprietary. I know Embarcadero continues to be in business for their modern OS developer packages. They also provide links to their 16 bit compiler but you have to have an agreement with them that it is for personal use and not for profit unless you purchase their professional packages then you could do whatever you wish. However you continue to need to acknowkedge their softwares. So anyways I use Borland Turbo C 2.01 copyrighted 1987 & 1988. Also, I use Borland Turbo Assembler 4.1. The Borland Turbo Assembler 4.1 is a paid-for product. So it IS a collector's item. Believe it or not I'm planning to stay home all my life and programming until I'm 100 years old!!! My sisters get to do that from very good companies. They sit home and program for the company............

You should contact Borland directly (if they even still have a head office) and asked them to send
you the development builds for any cancelled approved updated software they have on file. Maybe
get an open source contract with Borland and help maintain their existing software. Turbo C is
still used in some casual places but the vast majority use GCC or even Clang nowadays.

By the way kudos for attempting to mix machine ASM with C - C is really a layer above ASM anyways. :)