Comeau C C

Design

The compiler supports several dialects of both the C and C++ languages. It comes with its own version of the Standard C++ library, libcomo, that is based upon the Standard C++ library from Silicon Graphics, but can also be used with the Dinkumware Standard C library.

The compiler is based upon the Edison Design Group C++ frontend, also utilized in the Intel C++ Compiler. Rather than produce an executable directly, Comeau C/C++ outputs C code and requires a separate C compiler in order to produce the final program. Unlike the Intel compiler, Comeau C/C++ can employ several back ends.

Comeau C/C++ has been described as the most standards-conformant C++ compiler. In 2006-2008 it was described as the only mainstream C++ compiler to fully support the export keyword for exported templates.

Standards compliance

Comeau Computing is a founding member of the C++ committee. Comeau Computing's CEO, Greg Comeau, provided one of the early ports of cfront to the PC.

Distribution

A limited-function version of the compiler, which allows one to compile source code and view any resulting error messages, but not to produce executable programs, is available from the company's web site.

The compiler is available for both Unix and Microsoft Windows platforms. Comeau also offers custom ports to other platforms, albeit that this is substantially more expensive than buying existent versions of the compiler.

Current status

The compiler was updated October 6, 2008 featuring version 4.3.10.1 Beta 2.

The Comeau Computing website experienced technical difficulties starting in 2012 and was completely offline for an extended period. In 2013, Greg Comeau issued a series of status updates via the company's Twitter account. On July 19, 2013, the Comeau Computing website was brought back online.

As of December 2016, version 4.3.10.1 remains in Beta. The company website remains online although marked as under construction. The online compiler on the site's "tryitout" page is marked as non-functional.