DICE - A "C" PROGRAMMING ENVIRONMENT  

                            by Peter Thompson


   Ed: Check out also the review of DICE in MD25.


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   DICE: pl. n. A regular polyhedron with markings on each face used to
  obtain random results. vt. To partake in a game of chance or hazardous
  enterprise vt. (Cookery) to cut vegetables into small cubes. n. (Amiga)
  a C compiler written by Matt Dillon.

   DICE stands for Dillon's Integrated C Environment; i.e. a C compiler
  written by Matt Dillon, Amiga guru extraordinare. He is responsible for a
  lot of substantial Amiga software; e.g. the UUCP (Unix-to-Unix Copy
  Program) port, DNet (A program that allows you to network Amigas), the
  programmer's editor DME, the Mach III/AutoCLI style program DMouse, and a
  few other things of which I can't remember enough details to include in the
  review.

   3 C Alternatives

   DICE is, as I have stated, a C compiler. If you have no idea of what C is
  (a programming language) and what a compiler is (a program that turns
  programs into executable code) then stop reading NOW, because you won't be
  interested. There are basically 3 alternatives if you want to obtain a C
  compiler on the Amiga:

 * Look through the Fred Fish lisitings for the latest version of the
  publicly distributable C compiler(s); then buy the Commodore includes and
  autodocs.

   How long it'll take: A day to set up the disk, and a couple of weeks to
  get the includes.

   Estimated cost: $25, $5 if you already have the Commodore includes and
  autodocs disks.

   What you get: A C compiler.


  * Go out and buy Lattice or Aztec C.

   How long it'll take: Depends on Australia Post if by mail order, or
  fifteen minutes if buying it direct.

   Cost: varies. Look it up at your local computer store or in the mail
  order adds, but I think it's a couple of hundred dollars.

   What you get: C compiler, bound manual, includes, documentation, global
  optimiser, and various utilities.



  * Register for DICE.

   How long it'll take: About 6 weeks, 4 of which are postal delays.

   Cost: US$50 for the registered version; Aus$3:50 or less for Fred Fish 491
  with the publicly distributable version.

   What you get:

   C compiler : this is a unix-style compiler, not an integrated
  environment like Turbo C or the Lattice frontend; but it is possible to
  program DME to run it from within DME if you're that way inclined (I'm
  not). [Ed: See a tutorial on DME this issue.] However, Real C Programmers
  (TM) don't need an integrated environment; and the options available are
  manifold, including the usual compiler flags (don't compile to executable,
  executable name, define symbol, link with these files, etc) as well as more
  exotic ones (use precompiled header files, produce code to be stored in a
  ROM, profile, use register arguments to operating system calls, enforce
  prototyping, don't add startup/exit code, etc.).

   Includes (1.3 and 2.0) : The include files and libraries necessary to
  unleash the power of your Amiga are included for both version 1.3 and 2.0
  of the operating system. Unfortunately, Matt Dillon does NOT have the
  license to include the Autodocs, so you have three choices;

      a) Get them from Commodore yourself.
      b) Pay $$$$ for the Commodore manuals; Exec, Libraries and devices,
         etc.
      c) Pay $$$$+ for the Abacus series. N.B. I've found that book #7 is the
         most helpful for an assembler programmer.

   On-disk documentation : no bound manual is included, but there is
  documentation for just about everything on the disks (see listing below).
  It includes most of the standard C functions, and nearly all of the various
  utilities, with the exception of A68k (a very good (and free) macro
  assembler.

   Profiling : Basically a tool for those who like their programs fast.
  Profiling produces a list of where your program spends the most time.

   * Library source : All the source to the C library. If you don't like the
  way Matt Dillon did a C standard function, you can change it...

   * LOTS of examples and source : see the listing below.

   * A hard disk/floppy disk installation program : Unpacks the distribution
  for you.

   * A severe memory shortage : DICE will run in 512K, but that requires you
  to store all temporaries on disk, have no portion of the compiler resident,
  and is as slow as a wet week. I have 1 Mb and two floppies, and I can
  compile ok, though it's a little slow; a friend (also a registered user
  (Hi, Tom!)) runs it on a 2.5Mb 1 floppy machine (don't ask ME why) by
  making the compiler resident.


   DICE is basically speed oriented. Part of the memory shortage (at least
  on my machine) arises because it reads all of any include file into RAM to
  speed access. This shows up in the compilation times, which on my machine
  are bound by floppy access times, which are.. um.. pitiful. Anyway, I
  haven't encountered any major bugs, and the price is right, so I like it.

   This is what I got with version 2.06.38, dated 23rd November 1991:

   6,581,206 bytes of stuff, broken up into a huge number of files on 3
  disks.


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