Pascal Resources

Version used in class

Implementation

Version

Note: While Free Pascal is available for use on a variety of Unix systems (FreeBSD, Mac OS X, Linux), it is not available for use on the Sun platform. Since our Unix boxes in the CPS labs are Suns, we are unable to provide you access to the Unix version of Free Pascal. However, we encourage you to install and use a Unix version on your personal computer.

Using Free Pascal in the CPS Labs (Anderson 131/135)

You may invoke the Free Pascal compiler by typing fpc program.pp at any command shell. Free Pascal is also available on the start menu at Start -> Programs -> FreePascal, which just brings you to a command shell at c:\temp. Information on testing the compiler is here.

Installing Free Pascal @ Home

Grab the distribution from the Free Pascal Download Page (or one of its mirrors).
Choose an appropriate operating system and follow the instructions for installation under Windows or Linux. The remaining instructions are for a Windows installation. The GA or instructor can provide help with a FreeBSD, Mac OS X, or Linux installation.
Select the most recent stable version (currently 10.0.10 w321010.zip) which does not include the sources, gdb, and the gnu utilities.
Save it to a temporary folder of your choice.
Unzip w321010.zip in the temporary folder.
Launch Install.exe.
The compiler installs in the directory you specify ( C:\pp by default). If you specify a different location, please make sure that the directory name you use does not include any spaces. DO NOT install in C:\Program Files\pp!
After installation, add C:\pp\bin\win32 to the PATH environment variable (replace C:\pp with whatever install location you used). For Windows 2000 and Windows XP users, go to Start Menu -> Settings -> Control Panel -> System. Click on the Advanced tab, then press the "Environment Variables ..." button. Make the change under "System variables" if you want all user accounts on your machine to have Free Pascal in their search path, or under "User variables for ..." to affect your account only.
Open a command shell, and change directory to C:\pp\demo\win32 (replace C:\pp with whatever install location you used).
Compile winhello.pp, using the command fpc winhello.pp.
Execute winhello.exe to verify that your installation is correct.
Contact the GA or instructor if you find errors in this procedure or if you have difficulty installing Free Pascal using this procedure.

Documentation

Free Pascal documentation (also is included in the distribution in both HTML and PDF forms -- unzip your preferred version)
Free Pascal API (Reference for unit 'System')

Useful Links

A Brief Introduction to Pascal (also available locally) by P. Lee from ACM SIGPLAN Notices, Vol. 28(3):pp. 63--64, March 1993.
A Pascal tutorial
Links to more Pascal resources from the Open Directory Project
Pascal/C++ comparison
Various Pascal resources from Yahoo!

Books

Pick up any textbook or programming reference on Pascal at the Roesch Library or your local library. My favorite is Oh Pascal! by Doug Cooper and Michael J. Clancy (any edition).

D. Cooper and M. J. Clancy. Oh Pascal!. W. W. Norton & Company, Second edition, 1985. (the third ed., 1993 is also available).
N. Graham. Introduction to Pascal. West Publishing Company, 1980. (newer editions are available as well).

Sample Programs

Body Mass Index Program in Pascal: bmi.pp
Body Mass Index Program in C++: bmi.cpp