All About Freeware

Although it was once a commercial product, Borland’s Turbo C compiler/interpreter is currently available for free download - after a brief registration form is completed. It is useful for compiling C programs to use with DOS and older versions of Windows, although the install process is a bit complex. The download size is only about one megabyte.

Because TurboC was originally sold on three 3.5″ 720K disks, the ZIP file is split into three directories - one for each disk. The easiest way to install it is to copy these directories to three disks, then install it from the disks. The Borland Turbo C 2.01 interface works in Windows XP, although it lacks mouse support. When tested, it also functioned well on an 8 MHz 286 with DOS 3.3.

Turbo C is compatible with the WATTCP library, which makes it useful for creating communications/internet programs. However, software it compiles will not work in Windows XP or Vista if there are any graphics. Overall, it is a good freeware program for learning about C, creating text-based software, or producing graphical programs for older computers.

While commercial software products are typically designed to use recent operating systems and fit on a CD, freeware software development should be approached differently. Here are a couple of tips for programmers who create freeware applications or games…

1. Keep the disk space requirement low: People don’t want to wait hours to download a program, and some need to conserve hard disk space as well. It is amazing what sort of software can fit in under a few megabytes, if efficient programming techniques are applied. Think of the old Sierra graphical adventure games which were sold on a couple of 720k disks, with mouse/joystick support and multiple graphics modes.

2. Cater to older or less common operating systems: Sometimes development for a niche audience is more likely to attract users. For example, plenty of web browsers already exist for Windows XP, whereas there are only a few for DOS. More people will be interested in a new freeware browser for DOS, while the Windows XP browser would have to be especially remarkable for anyone to use it.

I recently tried out a free interpreter and compiler for the programming language C. It is called Pacific C and it runs in DOS or Windows. Programs created with it can be used at the Windows or DOS command prompt.

Pacific C version 7.51 has a text-based but colorful interface, fairly extensive documentation, and a number of sample programs. The download size is only about one megabyte; registration is required, but only a few brief questions have to be answered. Download Link

Overall, this freeware interpreter/compiler lacks some capabilities of newer compilers, but is relatively user friendly and has some useful extra features (like a built-in scientific calculator).

Some programmers may wonder why they would want to create free software. Here are some potential reasons:

1. Freeware can help bring more traffic to the web site where it is available for download.

2. The program may include an advertisement for a product or service that isn’t free.

3. A freeware application might be of practical use to the individual or company which created it.

4. The programmer can tell a potential employer about a popular free software product he or she produced.

5. In the process to create programs of any type, the author is likely to learn more about programming.

Other possible reasons to create freeware include receiving donations, promoting the use of a specific operating system, or improving recognition of a brand.