WindowsGNU

[Wolfgang Renner]

Dear GNU Professionals !

In early January 2003 I was searching for a free Fortran Compiler
for Windows32. I found a download site for WinGNU.
Before I though GNU is only for Linux.
After installation of G77 I had success in compiling the small
Fortran example. But I had no chance to expand it to multifile
programs controlled by a Makefile.

Then I made systematical Demo's for Absoft ACC,F77,F90
and Borland CPP32 from free distributed BORCPP 5.5 C/C++
compiler. For this commercial Windows compiler my Makefiles
worked properly in producing running code, also with linking
to my function Library DspLib, which is a single DLL with
Import library ALDspLIb.lib (COFF) and BLDspLib.lib (OMF).

I tried the same with GNU Compilers, but without any success.
I don't know if GNU can link to Windows Import libraries
like KERNEL32.LIB or my Import library ALDspLib.lib.
A DynamicLinkLibrary .DLL is an absolut file format like .EXE
in Windows. The Import libraries .LIB linked with the .OBJ
moduls of any program can have different formats like COFF
(Microsoft), OMF (Borland) and perhaps .OUT (WinGNU).
If there is an Imptool which analyzes a .DEF definition file
or the DLL for making an Import library .LIB any DLL can
be linked to every programs (OBJ formats).

Soon after my first problems with GNU I contacted some GNU
addresses, with the request for some simple multifile demonstrations
which can be compiled and run errorfree. I did not get any such
demonstrations. But I heart something that GNU emulates an
UNIX system on Windows, which means linking to WinAPI
and using its functions directly is not possible. Is this true ?

In the ZIP file DemoFile.ZIP is a directory with Absoft, Borland
and GNU examples in the way I would like to have it. The Absoft
and Borland files compile and run errorfree. But GNU is an wild
beast to me, which don't compile. Could it be possible to correct
my GNU example in such way that it compiles and runs errorfree ?

Dir.txt shows the content of my Demo0 directory. I start all programs
with a .BAT file. The PIF files define the Console with 50 lines etc.
on my Win98 computer. I could sent you the Borland BORCPP.EXE
modul which enfolds to the full Borland Compiler set for the
command line. But this modul is above 8 MB. I don't want you to
load 15 minutes for my unrequested E-Mail. If you want to run
the Borland example I can send BORCPP.EXE later. The Absoft
compiler is not free distributable. Therefore I cannot give it to you.

GmuErr4.bmp  is a screenshot of a gmc.bat run. It shows one
version of errors I got. When I runned GNU make I got mysterical
errormessages, so I continued with Borland Make, which acceptes
my Makefiles like Absoft Amake as errorfree.

My function library DspLib is a collection of functions to program
simply technical applications with Fortran and C/C++ under Windows.
With its usage you only write your theme without concerning system
programming problems. It cannot mirror the whole WinAPI. - It is
only a small, but convenient subset, sufficient for most problems.
DspLib should be used for teachning programs, and may have a
chance for school, universities and hobby programmers.
I want to match it for most commercial compilers and would like
to match it to GNU G77 & GCC for Windows as well. (Perhaps
later to Linux too). But I need some help

Please give me at least advice how I can run GNU errorfree. Probably
I need some libraries more. I don't want to emulate a UNIX machine.
I want simply link to my function library which links to WinAPI direct.
The Fortran & C/C++ compiler output (EXE files) communicates only
with the Console and DspLib.
In Fortran or C/C++ no API calls are necessary.
But I must link to a Windows-like DLL. DspLib is such a DLL.
GNU must produce an Import library which can be linked with the
compiled G77 or GCC object files. Is this possible ?

Yours sincerely:  Wolfgang Renner

DemoFile.ZIP
Description: Zip compressed data

Dir.txt
Description: Text document