Wanted for cutting edge historic research: Manx Aztec 'C' 3.4a installation disk

[Olaf Barthel]

I am looking for floppy disk images (ADF format) which cover this particular 1986 release of the Manx Aztec 'C' compiler for the Amiga.

It shipped with a snazzy ring binder (more than 200 pages of documentation), with the software provided on 2-4 floppy disks, depending upon which edition you bought ("professional", "developer" or "commercial", with or without the source level debugger).

If the 1988 manual contents are any guide, three versions of the compiler were released between 1986 and 1988 (versions 3.2a, 3.4a and 3.6a). Version 3.4a is of particular importance because it introduced a new feature which enhanced the compiler's support for overlay executables.

Disks 1 and 2 contain the link libraries, found in the "lib" directory. These are called "c.lib" and "c32.lib" and contain what is of interest here. These files will have been created around late 1986 or early 1987. The disk names are "sys1:", "sys2:" and "sys3:".

If you can find this relic, please let me know.

[kamelito]

I missed the 5.2 on eBay because of a bug on their side.

[hooverphonique]

Originally Posted by Olaf Barthel

1986 release of the Manx Aztec 'C' compiler

Seems it was already ancient back then

[Olaf Barthel]

Originally Posted by kamelito

I missed the 5.2 on eBay because of a bug on their side.

3.2 or 5.2?

5.2a was the last update to the 5.0a release, back in 1991, if memory serves. I was lucky to get the update disks back then. If you search the archives, the Aztec 'C' 5.0a compiler is apparently the last Amiga version you can grab.

[Olaf Barthel]

Originally Posted by hooverphonique

Seems it was already ancient back then

Yes, but they were the new guys and had a thing or two which worked better than the main competition at Lattice, Inc. Some of the ideas which the Apple Macintosh operating system forced upon the Aztec 'C' compiler would translate very well for the Amiga, such as the small memory model for data.

That the compiler produced assembly language source code, which was processed to yield object code by the assembler, had a big impact. Integrating assembly language source code with the 'C' code was easy and the compiler itself had the grace to produce decent, reliable and predictable code.

Not that the Lattice 'C' compiler of the time was not competitive, but Aztec 'C' let you in on the secrets of the translation, providing more degrees of freedom and control to the developer.

[Matt_H]

You know, I might just have this. I got a whole bunch of Aztec stuff in an Amiga lot a number of years ago. I imaged 3.6a, 5.0a, 5.0d, and 5.2a at the time. I imaged another version more recently that I had previously overlooked - it might be the one you're looking for. Let me look around and try to remember which machine has the images! I should have an answer tomorrow.

[TCD]

Originally Posted by Matt_H

I imaged 3.6a, 5.0a, 5.0d, and 5.2a at the time.

Would be great if you could also upload 5.0d and 5.2a

[Amiga68k]

Version 3.4a can be found in the 'Dutch Collection'

Edit: In The Zone

[Matt_H]

Alas, what I had was not 3.4. Or rather, it *was* 3.4, but the previous owner overwrote the disks with 3.6. And before that it was 3.2, also overwritten.

But I did find a disk with a single readme.txt file on it which came from either 3.4 or 3.6 (not sure) - it seems to be a fairly detailed changelog, so maybe it can help with regard to historical research. Uploaded the readme in the Zone.

[phx]

I have the four Aztec-C 3.4a original disks. Bought the compiler in 1987. You know my email. Contact me if you still need something.

[redblade]

Originally Posted by phx

I have the four Aztec-C 3.4a original disks. Bought the compiler in 1987. You know my email. Contact me if you still need something.

Will you be sharing the disk images with the Aztec C museum?

[Snoopy1234]

Originally Posted by Olaf Barthel

I am looking for floppy disk images (ADF format) which cover this particular 1986 release of the Manx Aztec 'C' compiler for the Amiga.

It shipped with a snazzy ring binder (more than 200 pages of documentation), with the software provided on 2-4 floppy disks, depending upon which edition you bought ("professional", "developer" or "commercial", with or without the source level debugger).

If the 1988 manual contents are any guide, three versions of the compiler were released between 1986 and 1988 (versions 3.2a, 3.4a and 3.6a). Version 3.4a is of particular importance because it introduced a new feature which enhanced the compiler's support for overlay executables.

Disks 1 and 2 contain the link libraries, found in the "lib" directory. These are called "c.lib" and "c32.lib" and contain what is of interest here. These files will have been created around late 1986 or early 1987. The disk names are "sys1:", "sys2:" and "sys3:".

If you can find this relic, please let me know.

The 3 3.4a images are on the EAB server here:
http://ftp2.grandis.nu/turran/FTP/No...tec.C.3.4a.zip

[TCD]

Originally Posted by Snoopy1234

The 3 3.4a images are on the EAB server here:
http://ftp2.grandis.nu/turran/FTP/No...tec.C.3.4a.zip

Should have mentioned that I added the disk images that Amiga68k uploaded to the zone a few days ago Thank you Amiga68k for sharing them

[phx]

Originally Posted by redblade

Will you be sharing the disk images with the Aztec C museum?

Yes, maybe I should. I just contacted the owner.
My version includes all four disks. Not only three.

EDIT: Too bad. The responsible person for that museum is no longer reachable:

<bbuckels@mts.net>: host mx.mymts.net[140.238.150.69] said: 550 5.1.1 [R2]
    Recipient bbuckels@mts.net does not exist here. (in reply to RCPT TO
    command)