Newbie questions. Which Compiler to start with? Real Time behaviour? Has anyone converted CImg yet?

[Dicebot]

On Sunday, 1 September 2013 at 23:35:16 UTC, John Carter wrote:
> We work in the embedded linux real time area, so here are a few 
> newbie questions that I couldn't spot the answer to...
>
> 1) Which D compiler should we start with? We use gcc/g++ for 
> everything else, is gcd a good choice or should we stick with 
> Digital mars one? (We would be cross compiling to sparc or arm)

dmd is usually used only as development compiler because it is a 
reference one and because if fast compilation times. ldc and gdc 
code gen is much better and cross-compilation to arm is a serious 
indication that gdc is a best option.

> 2) The traditional argument against garbage collected languages 
> in real time environments is that they sporadically lock up 
> while collecting resulting in missed real time deadlines. 
> Certainly the "state of the art" in GC has moved beyond this, 
> and also there are workarounds for the problem. Is it possible 
> to do real time programming in D?

I have answered this some time ago on SO: 
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/16668821/using-d-for-a-realtime-application/16687816#16687816

It is possible but not convenient. And requires good knowledge of 
D internals.