TDI Modula-2
10 messages in this thread
My local computer store was having a clearance sale on old merchandise and
I picked up TDI Modula-2 (version 3.01, I think) for $20. I started using
it and I really like the language. But, I've run into something weird in
their editor. The editor is supposed to automatically locate errors for
you. I've found that it doesn't always do this. Even stranger, it seems
that it won't do it when I've just booted, but after a few runs (or
sometimes a lot of runs) it starts locating them just fine and keeps doing
it for the rest of the session, until I do something stupid and have to
boot again 🙂
A couple of other things I noticed about the editor:
First, the documentation says that in order to translate numeric error
codes into error messages, it needs the Syntax.ind file in the M2:
directory. This didn't work for me. I was looking through the program
file for some reason and I noticed the string "C:Syntax.ind" so I moved the
file to my C: directory and now it works (when it finds the errors at all,
that is).
Second, I happened to have Xoper running during one session, and I noticed
that the editor or the compiler will leave the DOS library open when it's
finished. The count just keeps going up. I tried using Xoper's flush
command and nothing happened.
Is TDI still around and does anybody know their upgrade policy?
–Jim
I'm pretty certain TDI is LONG since gone. A company called M2S which
markets M2Sprint Modula 2, once offered an upgrade to their development
package, but that offer's over with.
TDI was ok to play around with, but it had a lot of serious problems which
were never fixed. As long as you can identify the problems and work around
them, you could get by. If you're serious about Modula 2 programming, I
suggest you look into one of the supported packages like M2Sprint,
Benchmark, etc. MUCH better implementations than TDI.
Him,
Afraid TDI has been out of business for quite some time now. The
editor was moderately buggy, as were the library modules, but the basic
compiler produced better more robust code than either of the current M2
compilers on the market today. I have the source to the library modules
and will be glad to send them to you if you'll send me disk and return
mailer. You may be better off using the provided error listing program and
some other editor, just can't say since I never used their editor.
If you wish to switch to a currently available compiler I would
suggest M2Sprint since you get all the library modules with the compiler
(unlike BenchMark) and you get all the sources to those libraries (again
unlike BenchMark). The caviot here is that M2Sprint is being heavily
discounted through mail order houses now, perhaps largely due to the lack
of formal tech support or any likely future development. You can always
get support here for it (as well as for the TDI one at least from me since
I still have several major systems written using it).
Chip
Jim,
I was one of the early dupes, oops, I mean _customers_ of TDI. Don't use
the editor. It's full of bugs and is more work than it's worth.
TDI is not around any more. If you're going to use this compiler, be sure
you get the library fixes found in the libraries here. There are a couple
of the supplied libraries that are broke bad!
Of course, you could always move on to a _working_ Modula-2 compiler.
MCR – San Jose, CA
Which library are the fixes in? I looked in this one and I can't find
them. Could they have been lost in the transition from the "Pascal and
Modula-2" area to the "Other Languages" area?
If the fixes are still here (which I doubt — files that haven't been
accessed for 90 days are removed) they will be in Lib 12.
-sja
Lib 12 was where I was looking.
Jim,
I still have copies of the fixes. I could E-Mail them to you. But I think
you'd do better to take Chip Orange up on his offer. I'm still using my TDI
compiler because I haven't been able afford a new one. Chip's point about
the compiler proper being good is a good point. The problems you will find
are in the libraries.
MCR – San Jose, CA
Although the idea of the library source code is appealing, I don't think I
really have time to work with it right now. I'd appreciate it if you could
e-mail the fixes to me, if it wouldn't be too much trouble. If there's a
lot of files you could LHARC them.
–Jim
Jim,
There are two files. I'lll try to get them e-mailed to you tonight.
MCR – San Jose, CA