Zortech C++

A 16 and 32 bit C and C++ development system for DOS, Windows and OS/2, the system compromised an IDE with editor, compiler, profiler and debugger. Note that with version 2 you could buy an integrated system that supported OS/2 and DOS or a cheaper system that only supported DOS and in some countries only the cheaper version was distributed. With version 3 of the compiler 16 and 32 bit versions for DOS and 16 bit version Windows and OS/2 came in the same package. The company also had ports for the Macintosh and SCO Unix on offer for a while. Bought by Symantec in the early 90's who released a version 3.1 as a separate compiler for 32 bit OS/2 only.

The built in editor shipped with the package was based on MicroEMACS. After Symantec stopped selling the package the original developer started selling it under the Digital Mars name and currently offers the basic version of it as a free download, however that version offers support for 16 and 32 code generation for both DOS and Microsoft Windows but contains no OS/2 support.

History

The tool was originally delivered as C only compiler for DOS called Zorland C, and was aimed squarely at the budget end of the market, after a legal threat from Borland the name was changed to Zortech and rudimentary C++ capabilities were added.

Version

• 3.1 (32 bit version)
• 3.04r (16 bit version)

Licence

• Discontinued commercial software

Author

• Walter Bright
• Datalight (Original distributor)
• Zortech Ltd. (Originally Zorland Ltd.)
• Symantec

Links

• http://www.drdobbs.com/cpp/examining-zortech-c-20/184408290 (A review of version 2 from 1990)
• A review of version 2.18 from Infoworld
• http://www.digitalmars.com - Current owner of the codebase