- The Glasgow Haskell Compiler -- version 3.00
+ The Glasgow Haskell Compiler -- version 4.02
==============================================
We are pleased to announce a new release of the Glasgow Haskell
-Compiler (GHC), version 3.00. The source distribution is freely
+Compiler (GHC), version 4.02. The source distribution is freely
available via the World-Wide Web and through anon. FTP; details below.
Haskell is "the" standard lazy functional programming language; the
-current language version is 1.4, agreed in April, 1997. Haskell
-related information is available from the Haskell home page at
+current language version is Haskell 98, agreed in December 1998.
+Haskell related information is available from the Haskell home page at
http://haskell.org/
+GHC has a new Web page; point your browser at
+
+ http://research.microsoft.com/users/t-simonm/ghc/
+
+ What's new
=============
-GHC 3.00 is a source-only release. There are no binaries available at
-the current time: in the interests of spending more time hacking and
-less time building distributions, we're shoving this one out as
-quickly as possible so that intrepid hackers can try it out.
+GHC 4.02 fixes several bugs in 4.01 and adds the following major features:
+
+ * Full Haskell 98 language support,
+
+ * Scoped type variables,
+
+ * Better warnings for unused variables,
+
+ * A new generational garbage collector.
+
+The following things have not been fixed yet:
+
+ * The native code generator is still flaky, and is turned off by
+ default for the time being.
-Important new features:
+ * The profiler is still flaky.
- * Multi-parameter type classes. Please try 'em out; we'd
- appreciate the feedback.
+See the release notes for full details:
+
+ http://research.microsoft.com/users/t-simonm/ghc/Docs/latest/users_guide/users_guide-1.html#ss1.4
+
+A source distribution and binaries for common architectures are
+available from the web page.
+ Mailing lists
================
Relevant URLs on the World-Wide Web:
-GHC home page http://www.dcs.gla.ac.uk/fp/software/ghc/
+GHC home page http://research.microsoft.com/users/t-simonm/ghc/
Haskell home page http://haskell.org/
-Glasgow FP group page http://www.dcs.gla.ac.uk/fp/
comp.lang.functional FAQ http://www.cs.nott.ac.uk/Department/Staff/mpj/faq.html
The easy way is to go to the WWW page, which should be
self-explanatory:
- http://www.dcs.gla.ac.uk/fp/software/ghc/
+ http://research.microsoft.com/users/t-simonm/ghc/
Once you have the distribution, please follow the pointers in the
README file to find all of the documentation about this release. NB:
+ System requirements
======================
-To compile up this source-only release, you need a machine with 16+MB
-memory, GNU C (`gcc'), `perl' plus a version of GHC installed (either
-version 0.29 or 2.10 onwards). We have seen GHC work on these platforms:
+To compile up this source-only release, you need a machine with 32+MB
+memory, GNU C (`gcc'), `perl' plus a version of GHC installed (version
+2.10 at least, 3.02 recommended). This release is known to work on
+the following platforms:
+
+ * i386-unknown-{linux,solaris2,freebsd,cygwin32}
+ * sparc-sun-{sunos4,solaris2}
+
+Ports to the following platforms should be relatively easy, but
+haven't been tested due to lack of time/hardware:
* alpha-dec-osf{2,3}
* hppa1.1-hp-hpux{9,10}
- * sparc-sun-{sunos4,solaris2}
* mips-sgi-irix{5,6}
- * i386-unknown-{linux,solaris2,freebsd,cygwin32}.
* {rs6000,powerpc}-ibm-aix
-Similar platforms should work with minimal hacking effort. The installer's
-guide included in distribution gives a complete run-down of what-ports-work;
-an on-line version can be found at
-
- http://www.dcs.gla.ac.uk/fp/software/ghc/3.00/installation_guide/installing_toc.html
+The installer's guide included in distribution gives a complete
+run-down of what-ports-work; an on-line version can be found at
-EOF
+ http://research.microsoft.com/users/t-simonm/ghc/Docs/latest/installation_guide/installing.html