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{{About|the computer software|the small aircraft|Piper PA-23#Aztec}}
{{Tone|date=August 2011}}
{{Infobox software
| name = Aztec C
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| developer = Manx Software Systems
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| genre = [[Compiler]]
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'''Aztec C''' is a discontinued [[C (programming language)|C programming language]] [[compiler]] for [[CP/M|CP/M-80]], [[MS-DOS]], [[Apple II]] (both [[Apple DOS|DOS]] 3.3]] and [[ProDOS]]), [[Commodore 64]], early Macintosh, [[CP/M|CP/M-80Macintosh]], [[Amiga]], and [[Atari ST]]. It was sold commercially by Manx Software Systems.
 
==History==
Manx Software Systems of [[Shrewsbury, New Jersey|Shrewsbury]], produced [[NewC Jersey]],(programming produced [[Compilerlanguage)|C compilersprogramming language]] compilers beginning in the 1980s targeted at professional developers for a[[CP/M]], variety[[Apple of platforms up to and includingII]], [[IBM PC|PCs compatible]] ands, [[Macintosh|Macs]], and other systems.
 
Manx Software Systems was started by Harry Suckow, with partners Thomas Fenwick, and James Goodnow II, the two principal developers. They were all working together at another company at the time. Suckow had started several companies of his own anticipating the impending growth of the PCpersonal computer market, with each company specializing in different kinds of software. A demand came for compilers first and he disengaged himself from the other companies to pursue Manx and Aztec C.
 
Suckow took care of the business side, Fenwick specialized in front-end compiler development, and Goodnow specialized in back-end compiler development. Another developer, Chris Macey, worked withassisted them formomentarily a while onwith 80XX development, andapart infrom other areas.
 
One of the main reasons for Aztec C's early success was the floating point support forin the [[Zilog Z80|Z80]] compiler, which was extended to the [[Apple II]] shortly after. Suckow insisted on adding [[floating point]].
The name "Manx" was selected from a list of cats for no particular reason except that the name Suckow wanted to use was taken.
 
During the move to [[ANSI C]] in 1989, Robert Sherry whorepresented wasthem with Manx aton the time[[American andNational interestedStandards inInstitute|ANSI]] thecommittee{{Citation minutiaeneeded|date=March of standards represented them on the ANSI committee2022}} but left shortly after. He also fixed numerous bugs in the Aztec C after Chris Macey and Thomas Fenwick left the company.
One of the main reasons for Aztec C's early success was the floating point support for the [[Zilog Z80|Z80]] compiler which was extended to the [[Apple II]] shortly after. Suckow insisted on adding [[floating point]].
 
By this time [[Microsoft]] had targeted competitors for their C compiler and Aztec C was being pushed-out of the general [[IBM PC compatible|IBM-PC]] compiler market, followed by competition with [[Macintosh Programmer's Workshop|Apple's MPW C]] on the Macintosh side and [[Lattice C]] on the [[Amiga]] after SAS bought them.
During the move to [[ANSI C]] in 1989, Robert Sherry who was with Manx at the time and interested in the minutiae of standards represented them on the ANSI committee but left shortly after. He also fixed numerous bugs in the Aztec C after Chris Macey and Thomas Fenwick left the company.
 
In 1989 Thomas Fenwick left to work for Microsoft, and James Goodnow worked on Aztec C occasionally but was pursuing other projects outside the company and eventually left the company altogether. Suckow employed about 20 people at that time. Chris Macey returned as a consultant but eventually left to become chief scientist for another company. Mike Spille joined Manx as a developer along with the late Jeff Davis (embedded systems).
By this time [[Microsoft]] had targeted competitors for their C compiler and Aztec C was being pushed-out of the general [[IBM PC compatible|IBM-PC]] compiler market, followed by competition with [[Macintosh Programmer's Workshop|Apple's MPW C]] on the Macintosh side and [[Lattice C]] on the [[Amiga]] after SAS bought them.
 
Throughout the 1990s they continued to make their [[C (programming language)|Aztec C]] compiler. As their market share dropped, they tried to make the move to specializing in [[Embedded system|embedded systems development]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sltf.com/articles/pein/pein9103.htm|title=PC chipsets build a firm foundation for embedded applications|work=sltf.com|accessdate=24 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303172804/http://www.sltf.com/articles/pein/pein9103.htm|archive-date=3 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> but it was too late. They disappeared ain fewthe yearslate back1990s following the loss of market presence of some of their target platforms (various [[MOS Technology 6502|6502]] machines, [[Atari]] and [[Amiga]] [[68000|68xxx]], etc.).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.itee.uq.edu.au/~csmweb/decompilation/hist-c-pc.html |title=ArchivedHistory copyof PC based C-compilers |accessdate=November 22, 2007 |deadurlurl-status=yesdead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071215083657/http://www.itee.uq.edu.au/~csmweb/decompilation/hist-c-pc.html |archivedate=December 15, 2007 }}</ref>
In 1989 Thomas Fenwick left to work for Microsoft, and James Goodnow worked on Aztec C occasionally but was pursuing other projects outside the company and eventually left the company altogether. Suckow employed about 20 people at that time. Chris Macey returned as a consultant but eventually left to become chief scientist for another company. Mike Spille joined Manx as a developer along with the late Jeff Davis (embedded systems).
 
In the end, Jeff Davis and Mike Spille helped Harry Suckow keep the company going before Suckow finally closed it. Suckow is still the Copyright[[copyright holder]] for Aztec C.
Throughout the 1990s they continued to make their [[C (programming language)|Aztec C]]. As their market share dropped, they tried to make the move to specializing in [[Embedded system|embedded systems development]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sltf.com/articles/pein/pein9103.htm|title=PC chipsets build a firm foundation for embedded applications|work=sltf.com|accessdate=24 June 2016}}</ref> but it was too late. They disappeared a few years back following the loss of market presence of some of their target platforms (various [[MOS Technology 6502|6502]] machines, [[Atari]] and [[Amiga]] [[68000|68xxx]], etc.).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.itee.uq.edu.au/~csmweb/decompilation/hist-c-pc.html |title=Archived copy |accessdate=November 22, 2007 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071215083657/http://www.itee.uq.edu.au/~csmweb/decompilation/hist-c-pc.html |archivedate=December 15, 2007 }}</ref>
 
Many professional developers used the Manx Software Systems' Aztec C compiler until it became operationally extinct.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://support.microsoft.com/kb/60781|title=Hardware and software vendor contact information, L-P<!-- Bot generated title -->|work=microsoft.com|accessdate=24 June 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite webbook|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hDBPy-C7jl4C&pg=RA1-PA99&lpg=RA1-PA99&dq=%22manx%20software%20systems%22%20shrewsbury&sourcepg=web&ots=oq6cR0v7fm&sig=miY94IawT6O0DHp7uo74RetGIy0RA1-PA99|title=Encyclopedia of Microcomputers: Volume 11 - Management Studies to Multiprocessing and Multitasking|first1=Allen|last1=Kent|first2=James G.|last2=Williams|date=25 November 1992|publisher=CRC Press|isbn=9780824727093|accessdate=24 June 2016|via=Google Books}}</ref>
In the end, Jeff Davis and Mike Spille helped Harry Suckow keep the company going before Suckow finally closed it. Suckow is still the Copyright holder for Aztec C.
 
==Legacy==
Many professional developers used the Manx Software Systems' Aztec C compiler until it became operationally extinct.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://support.microsoft.com/kb/60781|title=Hardware and software vendor contact information, L-P<!-- Bot generated title -->|work=microsoft.com|accessdate=24 June 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hDBPy-C7jl4C&pg=RA1-PA99&lpg=RA1-PA99&dq=%22manx%20software%20systems%22%20shrewsbury&source=web&ots=oq6cR0v7fm&sig=miY94IawT6O0DHp7uo74RetGIy0|title=Encyclopedia of Microcomputers: Volume 11 - Management Studies to Multiprocessing and Multitasking|first1=Allen|last1=Kent|first2=James G.|last2=Williams|date=25 November 1992|publisher=CRC Press|accessdate=24 June 2016|via=Google Books}}</ref>
Aztec C remains [[copyright]]ed. Harry Suckow is the copyright holder.
 
At least two free Internet distributions exist for native Aztec C Compilerscompilers for the [[Apple II]]; one for Apple II DOS 3.3 and the other for [[Apple II ProDOS|ProDOS]] 8.<ref name="museum">{{cite web|url=http://www.clipshop.ca/Aztec/index.htm#apple|title=The Official Aztec C Online Museum|work=clipshop.ca|accessdate=24 June 2016}}</ref> A third freeFree Internet distributiondistributions exists for Aztec Cexist for the Commodore [[Amiga.]],<ref name="museum"/> A fourth free Internet distribution exists for their [[MS-DOS 8086 native compiler]],<ref name="museum"/> and a fifth exists for a limited version of theirthe [[MS-DOS]] [[cross-compiler]] for Apple II ProDOS 8.
==Current status==
Aztec C remains [[copyright]]ed and has not been placed into the [[public domain]]. Harry Suckow, who started Manx Software Systems with partners Thomas Fenwick and James Goodnow II, is the copyright holder.
 
At least two free Internet distributions exist for native Aztec C Compilers for the Apple II; one for Apple II DOS 3.3 and the other for Apple II ProDOS 8.<ref name="museum">{{cite web|url=http://www.clipshop.ca/Aztec/index.htm#apple|title=The Official Aztec C Online Museum|work=clipshop.ca|accessdate=24 June 2016}}</ref> A third free Internet distribution exists for Aztec C for the Commodore Amiga.<ref name="museum"/> A fourth free Internet distribution exists for their MS-DOS 8086 native compiler,<ref name="museum"/> and a fifth exists for a limited version of their [[MS-DOS]] [[cross-compiler]] for Apple II ProDOS 8.
 
==References==
{{Reflist}}
 
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:C compilers]]
 
[[Category:C (programming language) compilers]]
[[Category:Apple II software]]
[[Category:CP/M software]]