C--
C--
(This page is about Sphinx Full C--, not about C--, the portable assembly language
Sphinx Full C-- language is in between the C language and x86-assembly. It is a very neat computer language and the Shinx Full C-- compiler allows to produce (and mix) 16 bit and 32 bit code for real and protected modes.
Pros
- good for writing real mode x86 operating systems;
- good for writing TSR programs for DOS
- good for writing x86-related parts of an operating system in a structured and easily readable and easier debuggable way related to structured languages like C and Pascal;
- the code can be either low level (assembly-like), medium level (C like) or very easily mixed;
- very good (because of the structured form) for writing small toy programs which are close to the hardware;
- relatively easy to port from and to C-with-assembly.
Cons
- not portable; it is very closely tied to the x86 assembly;
- is developed by few developers, the community is small;
- one compiler implementation availlable and only for one platform (DOS);
- larger projects generally should be written in high-level languages, not low-level like Sphinx Full C--;
- can be used for x86-related parts of an operating system, but doesn't give as much control as assembly and requires to have both C (or C++) and C-- compilers;
I am not sure on the output formats of the compiler but I fear it provides only flat-binary and dos exes. I don't know if it can output 64bit code.
Early versions of panaLiX used Sphinx Full C--.
Examples
?include "nosys.inc"
dword old0x21 = {};
interrupt int0x21()
{
$PUSH DS
$PUSH ES
$PUSHA
$PUSH FS
DS = CS;
FS = 0xb800;
FSBYTE[1682] = '!';
$POP FS
$POPA
$POP ES
$POP DS
}