More Uniform Ada libraries (was: Proving Correctness)

[Kilgallen@eisner.decus.org.nospam (Larry Kilgallen)]

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In article <DT6c7.13785$SG4.2689164@nnrp4.proxad.net>, "nicolas" <n.brunot@cadwin.com> writes:
> "Larry Elmore" <ljelmore@home.com> a �crit dans le message news:
> 3B707688.340B8A70@home.com...
>> How many standard, cross-compiler, cross-platform libraries exist for
>> _any_ language? I'd be willing to bet more would be in Fortran than any
>> other language.
> 
> You are right, but I doubt that helps Ada a lot.

The point is not that people would not like to have uniform libraries
distributed with all compilers that are easy to use and not subject to
becoming obsolete.  The point is that nobody (including you, it would
seem) has a solid business model to achieve that goal.

When I say "business model", I mean to include "Nicolas write them all
and convinces all Ada compiler vendors to distribute them".  But even that
model has trouble at the "convinces all Ada compiler vendors" stage.

My understanding is that the Ada95 standard represents a compromise
based on what existing Ada83 compiler vendors were willing to accept.
At least one vendor dropped out, declining to accept the level of
change.  At least one other vendor joined in.  The point is that even
if your persuasive power is the ability to require something in the
standard, it is difficult to convince all Ada compiler vendors.