fpc/compiler

This directory contains the sources of the Free Pascal Compiler

To recompile the compiler, use the batch file
mppc386.bat

If you want to build a m68k version to cross compile from i386 to m68k
use the batch file
mppc68k.bat

If you want to compile/modify the compiler, please read first the
programmers manual.


Changes in the syntax or semantic of FPC:
-----------------------------------------
  28/01/99   implicit conversion from boolean to integer is not possible
             anymore (solved several bugs) but this could lead to errors
             on previously accepted code (PM)
  01/02/99   c styled comments are supported (/* ... */), mainly
             for the Sibyl sources of Medigo (FK)
  02/02/99   class destructors take now two parameters: flag
             if the helper routine should free the instance and
             self pointer (FK)
  22/02/99   PROTECTED and PRIVATE have now the same behavior
             as in TP
  09/03/99   small records and arrays passed by value to a function are now directly copied
             into a 4 bytes parameter (needed for C and DLL calls) (PM)
  11/03/99   the makefile.fpc is now also needed for the compiler and RTL, you can
             find it in the base.zip package (PFV)
  24/03/99   new directives UNITPATH,INCLUDEPATH,OBJECTPATH,LIBRARYPATH to
             set the searchpaths where to find the files for that module (PFV)
  25/03/99   new directive STATIC +/- or on/off , works like -St commandline
             switch
  02/04/99   rtl/cfg/ directory has been removed, it's not used anymore
  15/04/99   FINALIZATION is supported
  21/04/99   Default assembler for i386 changed to AT&T instead of direct
  25/04/99   initialized vars supported in Delphi mode (only $J+ mode)
             getting the address of an untyped const is now
             forbidden as in BP
  27/04/99   New unit format PPU016, you need to recompile all older units
  01/05/99   Internal assembler. Assembler readers now support MMX,KNI
             instructions.
  12/05/99   rtl/utils/ directory moved to utils/. Moved the utils only needed
             for compiler development to compiler/utils/
  13/05/99   Classes are now only allowed in the ObjFpc or Delphi mode. Use
             {$mode objfpc} or {$mode delphi}. Or from commandline -S2 or -Sd
  16/05/99   Remove options -Up (use now -Fu) and -Fg (use now -Fl)
  17/05/99   Redesign of ansistring temporary handling, please report
             any problems
  17/05/99   Most stuff of the objpas unit is now in the system unit
             because the new temporary ansistring handling support
             exceptions and exceptions need the class OOP model
  18/05/99   The compiler will stop directly if there are errors in the
             commandline parameters
  16/08/99   DLL are relocatable by default (need to strip symbols)
             -WN make non relocatable DLL (which can retain debug info)
             for both type of DLL the prefered image base can be specified
             with -WB1100000 for instance to get image base at $11000000.
  08/09/99   pointer addition/substraction (only available in fpc,objfpc mode)
             now uses the size of the type the pointer points to, just like
             inc(),dec() already did. Now inc(p) is the same as p:=p+1.
             But old code can be broken by this when there is a p:=p+4 then
             it's now parsed like: p:=p+4*sizeof(type). To get the old situation
             you can use typecasting: p:=ptype(pointer(p)+4).
  08/09/99   class/object field return their offsets in the object/class. You
             must access them self with loading the object/class pointer and
             then create a reference where you add the field
  07/11/99   Small change to property writing in PPU => all units
             exporting classes with properties must be recompiled
             (no new unit format, so be careful) (FK)
  08/11/99   PP variable in Makefiles changed to FPC
  14/11/99   makefile.fpc is not available anymore. You must now use fpcmake
             which is available from the utils/. There is also an example
             Makefile.fpc