Preface
Author: (Norbert) Suedland, Aalen, Germany
Does it make sense to provide a contribution on computer science even more than 25 years
too late? ―
The answer to this question results by the many changes, which have begun with the
issue of Windows 95 and lead to forced actions the latest at the ending of the old
DOS programs on new computers:
- The 16 bit processors were relieved by 32 bit and 64 bit processors.
- The character coding of text was enhanced from 8 bit to 16 bit and more.
- The system since then needs a graphics card and switches yet during the starting
procedure to the graphics mode.
- C was changed to C++, C#, and others to enhance the programming abilities.
For many programmers the impression arised, that Windows programming would
not be possible in pure C.
- The length of the file names was enlarged.
Such kind of changes usually is compensated by corresponding call parameters of the
compilers, thus the unchanged program text runs smoothly on all further platforms.
In this case, history happened differently, in the course of which here only the properties
of Borland C++ 5.02 are listed, ― the reader may add himself concerning other
compilers:
- For the change from 16 bit processors to 32 and 64 bit architecture, indeed there are
suitable call parameters of the corresponding compilers.
- For the change of the character coding, this kind of switches is missing so far, rather
the interested programmer is confronted with similarly sounding command names,
which at the end do in 16 bit and more, what under DOS was working in 7 or
8 bit.
- The commands for the graphics steering sound totally differently than under
DOS.
Also this would not have been necessary.
- Whosoever has mastered C++, the same can add himself all needed things.
However it is turning out, that even experienced programmers of C++ so far shrink from
the realization of their programs for extended type fonts.
The programs of Microsoft seem to be the only ones, which cope with extended
type fonts without any problems ― this needs not to remain the fact.
- So far hardly nobody took exception to the extension of the file name length.
With extremely long file names only, problems occur, when copying from Windows
to Linux.
The subsequent installation of switches for compilers is no problem in C.
However in this case, an own translation program must be set before, because the unchanged
compiler does not find out itself, whether the programming text has been saved with 7, 8,
16, or more bit for the character coding.
About this, the divers character codings are such clear, that the editing programs under
Windows and Linux can both relate and present correctly the same.
Therefore the question arises, why this possibility has not at last been used for
programming, too.
For that purpose, this publication shall at least simplify the start.