BDS-C FOR MSX AT LAST

Master (206)

18-10-2018, 18:12

Hello everyone,

I have found this interesting web http://www.nabeta.tk/en/ where we can see the old bds-c compiler adapted for MSX. The author has modified the bdsc sources in order to get programs which run on MSX-DOS as well as BASIC.

As everybody knows the bds-c was released just for cpm system although there is one version for japan computers called alpha-c which I have never been able to find it. It was used for many professional softwares in the latter seventies and earlier eighties in spite of its limits.

The good point is that the author shares the bds-c modified sources, so it can be easily enhanced because it is not ended yet.

... or simple play with.

Apart from that there are some interesting tools.

bye :)

By Wolverine_nl

Paragon (1160)

18-10-2018, 20:45

I just read something about it, also K&R C, like ASCII MSX-C. Interesting read. I also read it can't have assembly inline (standard). You need external applications to get certain things done for MSX.

My K&R C days are behind me, now sticking to ANSI C, no confusions anymore. (I sometimes pulled a K&R trick, which wouldn't work in ANSI C, or it did, but it wasn't necessary at all lolz)

But nonetheless, a great thing for MSX and interested people wanting to take a crack at it.
Great find!

AND for those that add Wiki's, this one could be added to the compiler list as one with content (it is there in red now)

By Josb

Master (206)

19-10-2018, 11:49

thanks

The blunders of BDS C is its lack of capability to manage the reallocation of the code as INTEL does, apart from the fact that It is not allowed to insert assembler in line what would make easier create programs without function libraries supporting.

However, comparing to other compilers, we have the full code on internet for free to modify it according our MSX needs.

By paulwratt

Supporter (4)

02-04-2019, 11:43

Note that the author of the website is also a ANSI C fan, so he wrote a pre-processor that converts source to line compatible K&R for use with BDS C and HiTech C. The means lines output due to compile time errors are correct for the original ANSI C source files.

The author also prefers BDC C to any other simply because it can do ANSI C arrays properly. He also gives a rundown of other versions of C available for MSX.
(Google Translate is fairly good on his site)

Also note that along with the (now publically available) BDS sources, the author also provides ZIP of a Windows based build environment. Links from his web page will lead you to be able to get/find the MS-DOS version of those tools, including a not mentioned MSX command line emulator built specifically to run ASCII MSX-C.
(they are on the vector url under DOS and Other platforms - Google translate is quite good on this site).

Last note, I have successfully translated most Japanese text files from the archives mentioned above, by using the upload document method of Google Translate. There are some tools around to copy MSX katakana files to SHIFT-JIS, which will also then work with the file translations, as long as the extension is TXT.

Have fun

Paul

By Manuel

Ascended (19468)