Re: Assembly language (was: Re: Another 1.3 wish.)

[arny@wayback.UUCP (Arny B. Engelson)]

In article <11466@linus.UUCP>, sdl@linus.UUCP (Steven D. Litvintchouk) writes:
> 
> In article <2176@xanth.UUCP> kent@xanth.UUCP (Kent Paul Dolan) writes:
> 
> > DOD could save grunches of training costs downstream by sponsoring
> > high quality, validated, PUBLIC DOMAIN Ada(tm) compilers for the
> > existing suitable home computers now.  
> 
> > At the rate things are going, it might be 5 years before a validated
> > Ada compiler priced for the home user is available.  That is just five
> > more years of DOD funding essentially all Ada training.
> 
> Meridian is developing a compiler for the IBM PC, and it's logical to
> assume that they or someone else will host/target the Mac.
> 

I'm not in any way associated with Meridian Software Systems, but since I
have this month's Defence Science and Electronics in front of me, and it's
relevant to this discussion, this is what Meridian says in the ad they have
in this magazine:
			   (paraphrased)
Meridian's AdaVantage v2.0 has been validated on the IBM PC/XT, IBM PC/AT,
and the Zenith Z-248.  They list a whole bunch of Chapter 13 stuff that they
implemented.  The ad says the compiler runs with 640K, a hard disk, and DOS
v2.1 or higher.  The price is listed at $795 (in single quantities) and they
claim it compiles about 1000 lines/minute on an IBM PC/AT.

Additional info from the ad:  An AdaTraining compiler (aimed at the
educational folks) sells for $395, and an AdaStarter compiler for $129, which
they say incorporates all the features, but limits the number of library
units and lines per compilation unit.  Some DOS utility routine packages are
also available for $50, and they claim a source level debugger and Ada
editor will be available in the fall.

Seems to me like a short 5 years, doesn't it?

I've never seen these tools, but it sure sounds like they're heading in the
right direction.  Hopefully, we'll soon see a lot more Ada tools in this
price range.
As a courtesy (and so people don't contact me about it), here are the numbers
to contact them:  outside Calif: (800)221-2522,  inside: (714)380-9800.

Arny B. Engelson   {ihnp4|bonnie|clyde}!wayback!arny