"IBM XL C/C++ Advanced Edition 6.0 for Mac OS X" and "IBM XL Fortran Advanced Edition 8.1 for Mac OS X"

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2013, June 14 - 6:11pm

Kitchen2010

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Joined: 2012 Aug 9

"IBM XL C/C++ Advanced Edition 6.0 for Mac OS X" and "IBM XL Fortran Advanced Edition 8.1 for Mac OS X"

I am searching the Releases of IBM's C/C++ and Fortran compilers for the Mac OS X:
• "IBM XL C/C++ Advanced Edition 6.0 for Mac OS X"
• "IBM XL Fortran Advanced Edition 8.1 for Mac OS X"

They were released by IBM in October 2004 with the then new PowerMac G5 in mind, but working also on the G4. Because of IBM's knowledge of its own PPC processors, the compiled code for the G4 and G5 is much faster than the same code compiled with the standard gcc compiler, as supplied by Apple, while being source- and binary-compatible to it (same situation as for the x86 processor series with Intel compiler vs. Microsoft compiler).
The compilers had to be ordered at IBM, I think.

After Apple's switch from PPC-based to x86-based Macs in 2006, the IBM compilers were not longer available (there are now Intel compilers for C/C++ and Fortran available for Mac OS X instead). They were discontinued and are to be considered abandonware (latest versions of the compilers are for AIX, Linux and mainframes only (XLC: 12.1, XLFortran: V14.1)).

So my question is:
Did somebody use these compilers and can supply me a copy, or better upload it to this site ?
It would be very useful by enabling PPC developers to make some software faster just by its better compiling technology.

Information links:
IBM XL C/C++ Advanced Edition 6.0 for Mac OS X":
Overview
Help
Information PDF
"IBM XL Fortran Advanced Edition 8.1 for Mac OS X":
Overview
Help
Information PDF

Comments

2013, June 16 - 3:48am

8bitdad

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Joined: 2010 Feb 11

Even if you can find it, I think licensing will be an issue. I'm not sure what they used for license management back then, but today they use FlexLM.

2013, June 17 - 9:45am

Kitchen2010

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Joined: 2012 Aug 9

Licensing is no issue if you got the CD. IBM sold the license for its Mac OS X compilers only for 1 user, delivered with the install CD. You had only to pay per year for support and SW maintenance. Once you had the Install CD, you could order additional licenses, though. (See Overview links in the above post, section "Passport Advantage Licensing").

As you may read in the help files (you just have to install the delivered License file on the CD with the program files, as is done by the Standard Installer).
The License file is named "xlf.lic " for the Fortran compiler and "vac.lic.pkg " for the C/C++ compiler respectively.
(see in the section "installation procedures" and "installation guide" Help documentation here: C/C++ compiler and Fortran compiler)

2013, June 17 - 11:13am

Kitchen2010

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Joined: 2012 Aug 9

There has been also an update for both compilers in 2004, featuring:
* Xcode templates
* compiler option for preview 32bit-to-64bit-transition problems

(see: http://lists.apple.com/archives/fortran-dev/2004/Oct/msg00001.html)

The Runtime environments and some updates are available here:
C/C++ compiler, Fortran compiler

I found also the news of product discontinuation here.

The compilers worked for Mac OS X 10.2 Jaguar and Mac OS X 10.3 Panther, for Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger, I found here a work-around.

Here is a report about the possible speed-ups versus the standard gcc compiler:
"Current GCC vs XLC performance comparisons show optimized GCC vs optimized XLC compiles showing improvements of anywhere from 11% to 51% on SPECint2000 scores. For floating point performance, the difference is even more extreme - more of the numbers are over the 50% mark than under; the G4/G5 have always had stronger floating point, and now the compiler backs that up with the appropriate optimizations to make use of the unique features of the architecture that enables that to be true."

2013, June 17 - 12:04pm

Kitchen2010

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Joined: 2012 Aug 9

All the Manuals are available here: C/C++ compiler and Fortran compiler.

2013, July 17 - 10:20am

Kitchen2010

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Joined: 2012 Aug 9

I set up 2 pages for the both compilers for future reference, I am still hoping someone to upload these compilers:
http://macintoshgarden.org/apps/ibm-xl-cc-advanced-edition-60-mac-os-x
http://macintoshgarden.org/apps/ibm-xl-fortran-advanced-edition-81-mac-os-x

2019, December 21 - 1:29am

unixphreak

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Joined: 2009 Oct 18

http://macintoshgarden.org/apps/ibm-xl-cc-compiler-60-beta-macos-x
http://macintoshgarden.org/apps/ibm-xl-fortran-compiler-81-beta-macos-x
these have been up for a bit, did you post them?

2019, December 21 - 1:42am

(Reply to #7) #8

Jatoba

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Joined: 2018 Apr 16

It was a user named tienex.

We should mirror the IBM FTP updates to these pages, as well, while they are available.