Turbo C is an Integrated Development Environment and compiler for the C programming language
Turbo C is an Integrated Development Environment and compiler for the C programming language

from Borland.
from Borland.

First introduced in 1987, it was noted for its integrated development environment, small
First introduced in 1987, it was noted for its integrated development environment, small

size, fast compile speed, comprehensive manuals and low price.
size, fast compile speed, comprehensive manuals and low price.

In May 1990, Borland replaced Turbo C with Turbo C++.
In May 1990, Borland replaced Turbo C with Turbo C++.

In 2006, Borland reintroduced the Turbo moniker.
In 2006, Borland reintroduced the Turbo moniker.

Early history In the early 1980s, Borland enjoyed considerable
Early history In the early 1980s, Borland enjoyed considerable

success with their Turbo Pascal product and it became a popular choice when developing
success with their Turbo Pascal product and it became a popular choice when developing

applications for the PC.
applications for the PC.

Borland followed up that success by releasing Turbo Basic, Turbo Prolog and Turbo C.
Borland followed up that success by releasing Turbo Basic, Turbo Prolog and Turbo C.

Turbo C had the same properties as Turbo Pascal: an integrated development environment, a fast
Turbo C had the same properties as Turbo Pascal: an integrated development environment, a fast

compiler, a good editor and a competitive price.
compiler, a good editor and a competitive price.

Turbo C was not as successful as the Pascal-sister product.
Turbo C was not as successful as the Pascal-sister product.

First, C was a language for professional programming and systems development rather than a school
First, C was a language for professional programming and systems development rather than a school

language.
language.

Turbo C competed with other professional programming tools.
Turbo C competed with other professional programming tools.

Turbo C did, however, have advantages in speed of compiled code, large project support and
Turbo C did, however, have advantages in speed of compiled code, large project support and

price.
price.

It is developed in C. Version history
It is developed in C. Version history

Version 1.0, Released on May 13, 1987, offered the first integrated edit-compile-run development
Version 1.0, Released on May 13, 1987, offered the first integrated edit-compile-run development

environment for C on IBM PCs.
environment for C on IBM PCs.

The software was, like many Borland products of the time, bought from another company and
The software was, like many Borland products of the time, bought from another company and

branded with the "Turbo" name, in this case Wizard C by Bob Jervis It ran in 384 kB of
branded with the "Turbo" name, in this case Wizard C by Bob Jervis It ran in 384 kB of

memory.
memory.

It allowed inline assembly with full access to C symbolic names and structures, supported
It allowed inline assembly with full access to C symbolic names and structures, supported

all memory models, and offered optimizations for speed, size, constant folding, and jump
all memory models, and offered optimizations for speed, size, constant folding, and jump

elimination.
elimination.

Version 1.5, in January 1988 was an incremental improvement over version 1.0.
Version 1.5, in January 1988 was an incremental improvement over version 1.0.

It included more sample programs, improved manuals and bug fixes.
It included more sample programs, improved manuals and bug fixes.

It was shipped on five 360 KB diskettes of uncompressed files, and came with sample C
It was shipped on five 360 KB diskettes of uncompressed files, and came with sample C

programs, including a stripped down spreadsheet called mcalc.
programs, including a stripped down spreadsheet called mcalc.

This version introduced the header file.
This version introduced the header file.

Version 2.0, in 1989 was released was in late 1988, and featured the first "blue screen"
Version 2.0, in 1989 was released was in late 1988, and featured the first "blue screen"

version, which would be typical of all future Borland releases for MS-DOS.
version, which would be typical of all future Borland releases for MS-DOS.

The American release did not have Turbo Assembler or a separate debugger.
The American release did not have Turbo Assembler or a separate debugger.

Turbo C, Asm, and Debugger were sold together as a suite.
Turbo C, Asm, and Debugger were sold together as a suite.

This seems to describe another release: Featured Turbo Debugger, Turbo Assembler, and an extensive
This seems to describe another release: Featured Turbo Debugger, Turbo Assembler, and an extensive

graphics library.
graphics library.

This version of Turbo C was also released for the Atari ST, but distributed in Germany
This version of Turbo C was also released for the Atari ST, but distributed in Germany

only.
only.

Note on later releases: The name "Turbo C" was not used after version 2.0, because with
Note on later releases: The name "Turbo C" was not used after version 2.0, because with

the release of Turbo C++ 1.0 in 1990, the two products were folded into a single product.
the release of Turbo C++ 1.0 in 1990, the two products were folded into a single product.

That first C++ compiler was developed under contract by a company in San Diego and was
That first C++ compiler was developed under contract by a company in San Diego and was

one of the first true compilers for C++.
one of the first true compilers for C++.

The next version was named Borland C++ to emphasize its flagship status and completely
The next version was named Borland C++ to emphasize its flagship status and completely

rewritten in-house, with Peter Kukol as the lead engineer.
rewritten in-house, with Peter Kukol as the lead engineer.

The Turbo C++ name was briefly dropped, eventually reappearing as Turbo C++ 3.0.
The Turbo C++ name was briefly dropped, eventually reappearing as Turbo C++ 3.0.

There was never a 2.0 of the Turbo C++ product series.
There was never a 2.0 of the Turbo C++ product series.

1987: Turbo C 1.0 1987: Turbo C 1.1
1987: Turbo C 1.0 1987: Turbo C 1.1

1988: Turbo C 1.5 1989: Turbo C 2.0
1988: Turbo C 1.5 1989: Turbo C 2.0

1990: Turbo C++ 1.0 1991: Turbo C++ 1.01
1990: Turbo C++ 1.0 1991: Turbo C++ 1.01

1991: Turbo C++ 2.0 1992: Turbo C++ 3.0
1991: Turbo C++ 2.0 1992: Turbo C++ 3.0

Borland split the product in two lines, one for beginners and one for professionals.
Borland split the product in two lines, one for beginners and one for professionals.

At first they were called "Turbo and Turbo Professional, later simply have "Turbo" and
At first they were called "Turbo and Turbo Professional, later simply have "Turbo" and

"Borland".
"Borland".

They developed C++ to 1996 in these two lines next to the version of Turbo C++ 3.0 and Borland
They developed C++ to 1996 in these two lines next to the version of Turbo C++ 3.0 and Borland

C++ 5.0.
C++ 5.0.

As with Turbo Pascal, there was also a Turbo C++ for Microsoft windows, which reached version
As with Turbo Pascal, there was also a Turbo C++ for Microsoft windows, which reached version

4.5.
4.5.

Turbo C for the Atari ST ended with version 2.0.
Turbo C for the Atari ST ended with version 2.0.

The program was not maintained by Borland, but the product was sold and renamed PureC.
The program was not maintained by Borland, but the product was sold and renamed PureC.

From 1996, Delphi became Borland's principal and highly successful Pascal toolkit.
From 1996, Delphi became Borland's principal and highly successful Pascal toolkit.

A similar release based on C++ became Borland C++Builder, which replaced Borland C++.
A similar release based on C++ became Borland C++Builder, which replaced Borland C++.

Freeware release In 2006, Borland's successor, Embarcadero
Freeware release In 2006, Borland's successor, Embarcadero

Technologies, re-released Turbo C and the MS-DOS versions of the Turbo C++ compilers
Technologies, re-released Turbo C and the MS-DOS versions of the Turbo C++ compilers

as freeware.
as freeware.

See also Turbo Assembler
See also Turbo Assembler

Turbo Debugger References
Turbo Debugger References

External links borland.com - Borland Developer Network Museum
External links borland.com - Borland Developer Network Museum

turboexplorer.com - Turbo Explorer Homepage — New downloadable versions of Turbo brand
turboexplorer.com - Turbo Explorer Homepage — New downloadable versions of Turbo brand

tools codegear.com - Turbo C++ version 1.01
tools codegear.com - Turbo C++ version 1.01

codegear.com - Turbo C 2.01 borland.com - Turbo C 2.01 Free download
codegear.com - Turbo C 2.01 borland.com - Turbo C 2.01 Free download

borland.com - Turbo C++ 1.01 available for download by registered users of other products
borland.com - Turbo C++ 1.01 available for download by registered users of other products

computermuseum-muenchen.de - Computer Museum in Munich with a large collection of software,
computermuseum-muenchen.de - Computer Museum in Munich with a large collection of software,

including Turbo C 1.0 ff sandroid.org - TurboC libraries for unix porting
including Turbo C 1.0 ff sandroid.org - TurboC libraries for unix porting

gnu.de - GRX graphics library compatible with "graphics.lib" for X11 output
gnu.de - GRX graphics library compatible with "graphics.lib" for X11 output