Newsgroups: rec.arts.int-fiction
Path: gmd.de!nntp.gmd.de!Germany.EU.net!EU.net!howland.reston.ans.net!usc!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!decwrl!adobe!pburries
From: pburries@adobe.com (Paul Burriesci)
Subject: Re: Problem with Inform for Mac (latest versino)?
Message-ID: <1994Aug14.095456.5871@adobe.com>
Sender: usenet@adobe.com (USENET NEWS)
Organization: Adobe Systems Incorporated
References: <ZBIR.94Aug13113343@silver.ucs.indiana.edu>
Date: Sun, 14 Aug 1994 09:54:56 GMT
Lines: 45

zbir@silver.ucs.indiana.edu (Zachery J. Bir) writes:

>I am having extremely frustrating problems with the latest Inform
>compiler for my Mac. Whenever I try to compile anything, the program
>crashes. I doubt it is the compiler, but I have tried to run it with
>all extensions off, to no avail. I don't believe that mis-typed code
>would do it, and I'm fairly certain that the code is clean (I was just
>trying to compile the shell, for goodness' sake!)... Anyways, Graham
>(or more likely {Neeeeah! what's his name - the porter to Mac}) could
>you give me a hand or just a suggestion? Anyone else have problems
>with their macs? Any solutions to this confounding and complex prob?

I have the same problem running under System 7.1.1 even with all
extensions off. The crash always happens for me just as the
Main routine in the Parser library file is being processed.
I figured that out by tracing through with MacsBug for a
little bit (the crash actually occurs because of a bad address
passed to strcmp). I was able to successfully compile the HelloW
story file (although it took a few tries, and a few crashes)
which does _not_ include the Parser library file. Every inform
program I've tried to compile which includes Parser crashes at
the same spot in the Main routine.

I mailed Robert Pelak (who did the Mac port) and got this reply:

Robert Pelak <pelak@msc.cornell.edu> writes:

>   I'm sorry to hear that you are having difficulty with Inform,
>Unfortunately, you are not the first.  Also, I have been unable to duplicate
>these problems, but I will continue to try.  I recently ran Inform on a
>PowerMac 7100 under System 7.1.2 without any problems, and have gotten
>a report of succesful operation on a Quadra 650, though this required all
>extensions be turned off.  32 bit addressing did not affect the problem.
>In the mean time, all I can say is that I will keep trying to solve
>this problem.  If you happen to get Inform working, please tell me what you
>did.  Thanks for your patience.


I plan to do some more digging with MacsBug and see if I can
narrow down what's happening further.

-- 
Paul Burriesci     | Wheel's on fire, rolling down the road.
pburries@adobe.com | Best notify my next of kin, this wheel shall explode.

