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From: jfox@netcom.com (Jeff Fox)
Subject: Re: language choice (was STAMP vs PIC questions)
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            <jfoxD5K74x.6r2@netcom.com> <3kbc45$s5i@handler.Eng.Sun.COM>
Date: Sat, 18 Mar 1995 12:32:23 GMT
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In article <3kbc45$s5i@handler.Eng.Sun.COM> cmcmanis@Sun.COM 
           (Chuck McManis) writes:
>I wrote:
>
>>You can do this (learn one language) but you have to choose "C". There are
>>C cross compilers for every microcontroller architecture I can think of.
>>(which isn't complete, but its all the big ones :-)). If you bought a
>>C cross compiler for every architecture you'll probably end up spending
>>about $50,000. :-(
>
>Jeff Fox (jfox@netcom.com) responded:
>: Since "C" is not the only language available for every microcontroller
>: why must it be "C"?  If you "have to" use "C" then the word "choose"
>: makes no sense.
>
>"Choose" was satirical. And yes Forth is available for a lot of
>processors, but I did this survey not too long ago and really the only
>language that you could buy, and that means a commercially supported
>development environment,  for _all_ of the microprocessors I checked
>on was C. I would be happy to find other languages available.

Yes I understood that, but I was not sure everyone else did.  I just
react the same way to being told that I "have to" choose "C" as many
people would to being told that they "have to" choose "Forth".

There are times when I would be delighted to use "C", but it is just
not available for _all_ of the microprocessors that I program.  I don't
have the time (or experience) to write a "C" compiler for some micros,
and I can't always afford to have someone else write one for me. 

I agree with you that choices are nice when you have them.  I should
say thank you for your very informative posts here.  I have learned
a lot from your posts, and I am sure other people have too.  You 
are right that "C" is the most widely available language, so I know
what you mean about it making sense to choose "C".  And there are
of course other very good reasons to choose "C".

(I too was also trying for some "satire" so mayby I should have included
a happy face in my post.  :-)  )

Thanks,
Jeff Fox
