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Porting Central

Choosing Your C / C++ Compiler

For V5R1 and subsequent releases, C and C++ developers benefit from modern and standardized compilers. Three development interfaces exist:

Both ILE options generate the same back-end code on the iSeries server. Choose your user interface based on which will integrate best into your existing development environment. Broadly speaking, WebSphere Development Tools (CODE and related client-side GUI tooling) is more similar to a Windows development environment; the command line interfaces are more similar to a UNIX development environment. The command line interfaces (qshell and PASE shell) benefit from additional commands and utilities shipped as part of the iSeries Tools for Developers.

A closer look at UI alternatives follows:

  ILE and CODE ILE Server-side command line (qshell) PASE shell command line
Source files and include files Typically stored on a PC or a file server, but can be stored on iSeries (and accessed via a network drive or NFS). May be stored as stream files on the iSeries server, on a separate file server, or accessed via NFS or SMB. May be stored as stream files on the iSeries server, on a separate file server or accessed via NFS or SMB
Debugger Comes with a graphically-oriented WebSphere Development Tools (WDSC) debugger, but may use text-based system debugger or Java-based graphical system debugger. Java-based graphical system debugger or text-based system debugger. Java-based graphical system debugger or AIX text-based dbx debugger from PASE shell.
Compilation steps CODE ships with a Program Verifier. Check your code on the workstation to detect errors before actual compilation. Permits you to develop code in "disconnected mode" when access to an iSeries may not be available. Program generation may be executed in a single step (compile and link) or in multiple steps. Programs may be compiled on AIX and FTPed to the iSeries, or built with an AIX compiler from within PASE.
User interface & tools Has a graphical user interface, an integrated development environment (IDE) and associated tools. Command line driven. May integrate UNIX-style utilities and automate build process with scripts using qshell. Command line driven. May utilized existing shell scripts and makefiles within PASE shell.
Make facility The WDSC CODE product shipped does not include a make facility. Any PC-based nmake utility will work. One example is available at:
ftp://ftp.microsoft.com
/softlib/mslfiles
/nmake15.exe		 May use any make facility via qshell. May use rexec to execute from a remote client. May use any make facility via PASE shell.
Product Information An IBM licensed program, 5722-WDS, (V5R1 and subsequent releases).
  • *BASE
  • Option 21: Tools - Application Development
  • Option 51: Compiler - ILE C
  • Option 51: Compiler - ILE C
  • Option 52: Compiler - ILE C++
  • Option 53: Compiler - ILE C *PRV
  • Option 54: Compiler - ILE C++ *PRV
  • Option 56: IXLC for C/C++
  • Option 60: WebSphere Dev Studio Client - Server Support
Other options support additional languages. 		OS/400, 5722-SS1, option 33 (PASE) required for runtime. To compile from within PASE, install "XL C/C++ Enterprise Edition V7.0 for AIX" and review installation instructions.