From 1930197223293877007 X-Google-Language: ENGLISH,ASCII-7-bit X-Google-Thread: 109fba,923017c18a9e9d2f X-Google-Attributes: gid109fba,public X-Google-Thread: f78e5,2659f11f8a9ba9bb X-Google-Attributes: gidf78e5,public X-Google-ArrivalTime: 1993-11-15 02:13:17 PST Xref: gmd.de comp.lang.c++:38186 comp.std.c++:4430 Newsgroups: comp.lang.c++,comp.std.c++ Path: gmd.de!xlink.net!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!emory!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!library.ucla.edu!csulb.edu!csus.edu!netcom.com!rfg From: rfg@netcom.com (Ronald F. Guilmette) Subject: testing compilers (was: Re: C++ test suite available from FSF) Message-ID: Keywords: test suite C++ Free Organization: Netcom Online Communications Services (408-241-9760 login: guest) References: <27078@alice.att.com> Date: Mon, 15 Nov 1993 09:56:08 GMT Lines: 28 In article <27078@alice.att.com> ark@alice.UUCP () writes: >In article matth@extro.ucc.su.OZ.AU (Matthew Hannigan) writes: > >> I would _really_ like to see the result of the testsuite on some >> commercial compilers. Not that I think that they aren't better >> (at the moment), but how much better? > >In my experience, the ability of a compiler to pass a test suite >is only slightly related to its usability. It is part of the story, >but only part... For once, I will agree with Andrew. It is certainly the case that there is more to a quality compiler than mere correctness and/or conformance to standards. (In particular, performance of generated code is always an important issue.) But if we exclude correctness, conformance to standards, and performance of generated code, the "usability" of a compiler is a rather nebulous characteristic, and one which is not so easily quantified. Correctness, conformance, and performance *are* however characteristics which can be quantified, and which SHOULD BE quantified. -- -- Ronald F. Guilmette, Sunnyvale, California ------------------------------- ------ domain address: rfg@netcom.com --------------------------------------- ------ uucp address: ...!uunet!netcom.com!rfg -------------------------------