Need to target 16-bit DOS

[Nickolai Leschov]

Hello,

My host OS is Windows, target is i186 (details below). I would like to
use gnu gcc or other free compiler (preferably a drop-in replacement) to
compile my programs.

As far as I can tell, recent gcc doesn't support DOS as target, and
DJGPP a) targets i386 in protected mode and b) runs in DOS (I don't need
that).

What options do I have? Maybe an old version of gcc(up to which version)?

Details:
I'm programming an industrial automation controller that has an
i186-compatible processor (40 MHz Am188 clone, actually). Manufacturer
supplies the binary library in DOS LIB format for controlling the
controller's specific devices. The controller has a DOS-like operating
system in ROM.

Currently I'm using Borland C++ 5.02, targeting DOS and statically
linking with manufacturer's library. This worked fine for me until now.
But recently I've come upon a framework that I might want to use in my
program. It is being developed on Linux, but written to require no
environmental dependencies, and builds with gcc and make. With MinGW
installed, I made it to run on my Windows system. Now if only I could
get gcc to compile for 16-bit DOS, I could try it on my real target, the
i186 system.

I'm not very familiar with open source software, so I would appreciate a
bit of advice.

Best regards,
Nickolai

[Steve Turner]

I don't ever remember seeing a version of GCC that could target 16-bit
DOS; I'd be highly surprised if you have any luck walking down that
road. If your Borland compiler has run out of steam (you don't mention
what the problem is) you might try Open Watcom:

http://www.openwatcom.org

Their compilers have always had good support for 16-bit DOS, OS/2, and
Windows environments.

--
Free bad advice available here.
To reply, eat the taco.

[Nickolai Leschov]

Steve Turner wrote:
> I don't ever remember seeing a version of GCC that could target 16-bit
> DOS; I'd be highly surprised if you have any luck walking down that
> road. If your Borland compiler has run out of steam (you don't mention
> what the problem is) you might try Open Watcom:
>
> http://www.openwatcom.org
>
> Their compilers have always had good support for 16-bit DOS, OS/2, and
> Windows environments.

Thanks; I will.

I would like a compiler that can be ran from the command line to build
prjects with 'make'. Currently I make projects from within Borland's
IDE. As far as I can tell, Borland's 'makefiles' are of their very own
format and compiler switches are not compatible with gcc.

That's why I thought that maybe it's time to switch to something
different and modern, like gnu. But as I said I will try Watcom; seems
like it can suit my needs.

Regards,
Nickolai

[Oleksandr Gavenko]

In 90 (DOS/Windows time) openwatcom compiler be one of the best
existing open compiler, with good optimization.

Now project is slowly developed but they only one who task support DOS!