Re: Open Systems closed to Ada?

[seas.gwu.edu!mfeldman@uunet.uu.net (Michael Feldman)]

In article <1992Dec7.232157.3816@ennews.eas.asu.edu> koehnema@enuxha.eas.asu.ed
u (Harry Koehnemann) writes:
>
>It does - free compilers.  Universities are poor.  C compilers are free
>on Unix platforms.  In contrast, Ada compilers are absurdly expensive.
>Since our US industry is so reluctant to spend money on anything that
>might take more than 3 months to start showing a return on their
>investment (like training), they'll use the language dictated to them
>by the current masses.

Now, now. $1500. for a server license is absurdly expensive? Gimme a break.
Even if only 50 students a year use it, that's 30 bucks a seat.
We just purchased Alsys for the HP900-800 for $1800. We will have at
least 200 students a year on it. $9.00 a student is too much?

Ever look at the price of Sabre C? I have fought as hard as anyone else
in the industry for free Ada compilers, but not so that we can kill off
the commercial ones - not at current university pricing. I want GNAT
because I get sources with it, so I and my students can tinker.

More and more current masses are learning Ada. (Details on request.)

BTW - I'll agree wholeheartedly that the _commercial_ compiler prices 
are still way too high. The response, in general, is that the price of
a compiler, even if it's high, is marginal as a fraction of the cost of
a serious industry project.

Mike Feldman
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Michael B. Feldman
co-chair, SIGAda Education Committee

Professor, Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
School of Engineering and Applied Science
The George Washington University
Washington, DC 20052 USA
(202) 994-5253 (voice)
(202) 994-5296 (fax)
mfeldman@seas.gwu.edu (Internet)

"Americans want the fruits of patience -- and they want them now."
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