doshea wrote on 2025-02-19, 05:02:

Stripping the debug info from software you release is definitely a good idea! I like using debuggers - when they work properly, at least - so I don't have to figure out where to put the temporary print statements, but I have worked with and still do work with many professional developers who still prefer to add print (or equivalent) statements, so you're in good company 😁

So, if some professionals still use this method of debugging, maybe it's not so stupid... 'till not forgetting that all the temporary "debug print" lines need to be removed or turned to comments before building the release version 😁

I still may install Turbo Debugger 3.1. I'm curious how it looks as it's a separate product. I hope it will work fine in conjunction with Turbo C++ 3.01 IDE as both are released in 1992.

Actually, I'm gonna switch to Borland C++ IDE, which includes the debugger.

doshea wrote on 2025-02-19, 05:02:

The one by David Baldwin?

It says "Copyright 1990-4 by L. David Baldwin", so must be the very same product.

doshea wrote on 2025-02-19, 05:02:

Oops, I was meant to open source that, which might enable it to be updated to work with newer TV libraries. I had trouble getting it to build, then moved and changed jobs and never came back to that project 🙁

I don't know how you intend to open source it, since this software is also a very old commercial product, but it would be great to have it in an updated version that works with the newer FOSS Turbo Vision libraries, which are compatible with Open Watcom C/C++ compiler!... And this thread will become completely redundant 😀

doshea wrote on 2025-02-19, 05:02:

I suppose that you should be able to get any modern development environment to run some old compilers via DOSBox, given enough scripting.

Good luck with however you proceed! I'll be interested to hear what progress you make with making your development environment nicer, since I might do something similar one day.

You really helped me a lot with all the info, mate! Now these old Borland's DOS IDEs don't seem so tedious to be used, after you've explained some of their intricacies, that I didn't know about or had missed how they work 😀

For now I'll just switch to more "professional" version of the IDE - Borland C++ 3.1. Probably later I'll try to use some of the DOS editors you suggested as alternatives (when I learn how to use Borlnd's C++ compiler with the necessary flags in command line). I'll try the Borland C++ versions for windows 3.11/95 as well.

analog_programmer wrote on 2025-02-19, 11:50:

I still may install Turbo Debugger 3.1. I'm curious how it looks as it's a separate product. I hope it will work fine in conjunction with Turbo C++ 3.01 IDE as both are released in 1992.

Actually, I'm gonna switch to Borland C++ IDE, which includes the debugger.

Just installing Borland C++ is probably easiest, but I imagine the separate Turbo Debugger would work with earlier versions of their development tools.

I don't know how you intend to open source it

I got the source code from him on the agreement (if I recall correctly) that I'd figure out how to make it compile, document that, add all the necessary comments and documents to open source it, and then seek his approval, but I got stuck at the "compile" step for a long time, and it turns out that he passed away almost 4 years ago 🙁

He eventually released some of his later work as public domain so he certainly seemed keen on things eventually being freely available. I should find the old emails and see what exactly we agreed to.

doshea wrote on 2025-02-20, 11:05:

I got the source code from him on the agreement (if I recall correctly) that I'd figure out how to make it compile, document that, add all the necessary comments and documents to open source it, and then seek his approval, but I got stuck at the "compile" step for a long time, and it turns out that he passed away almost 4 years ago 🙁

He eventually released some of his later work as public domain so he certainly seemed keen on things eventually being freely available. I should find the old emails and see what exactly we agreed to.

As far as I understand the situation with this ancient DOS software and his creator, it's still only up to you to fulfill the conditions he has set for you, so he can give you his permission for releasing the source code he once gave only to you and no one else. Now, even if you manage to fulfill the conditions, once the author is not among the living, you can't get his permission to publish the source code. Well, at least he has officially released the software for free usage.

Also… if you need ide, try my dwed editor - it is not full featured ide, but may be you find it useful.
Under dosbox-x you will have access to clipboard.

DosWorld wrote on 2025-02-24, 14:23:

Also… if you need ide, try my dwed editor - it is not full featured ide, but may be you find it useful.
Under dosbox-x you will have access to clipboard.

I found this one as this github's profile matches your nickname here. Seems promising for a DOS editor. Thanks for sharing it!