Re: Binding or not binding

[gautier_niouzes@hotmail.com]

Hullo!
It is a very fundamental question and not akward at all.
An Ada version is worth because you get an a priori portability, when,
with a binding, you have to follow each version/compiler/OS/option set
of the original library. But it cost effort and time.
I think the value of this effort depends on:
 1/ simplicity of input - output
 2/ degree of fossilisation
1: if the input and output are relatively basic, abstract and stable
over time (like files, memory), it is more worth to have an Ada
version: you can take time to build it, it will still work
2: the more the library is fossilized, the more the effort of both
(Ada version, Ada binding) is worth
Examples:
- zlib is perfect in the 1 and 2 criteria; in addition, the code for
decompression is already done (Unzip-Ada); there are better
compressors for the "inflate" format than zlib, so translating zlib
compression would perhaps not be the best idea (for a _worse_
compression, there are two quick solutions :-) )...
- OpenGL: the output is a graphics card; it would be silly to make an
Ada version for each one...; the criterium 2 is advanced, so
maintaining a binding is worth the effort IHMO.
My point of view is rather hobbyist - but you never know with
software... E.g. Unzip-Ada is reportedly used in at least two
professional programs (one is embedded).
______________________________________________________________
Gautier         -- http://www.mysunrise.ch/users/gdm/index.htm
Ada programming -- http://www.mysunrise.ch/users/gdm/gsoft.htm