From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 3.4.5-pre1 (2020-06-20) on ip-172-31-74-118.ec2.internal X-Spam-Level: X-Spam-Status: No, score=-1.9 required=3.0 tests=BAYES_00 autolearn=ham autolearn_force=no version=3.4.5-pre1 Date: 21 Jan 93 20:57:19 GMT From: noc.near.net!inmet!ryer@uunet.uu.net (Mike Ryer) Subject: Re: ASIS (Was Re: IrisAda) Message-ID: <1993Jan21.205719.14359@inmet.camb.inmet.com> List-Id: Bear in mind that ASIS has a cost beyond the dollars you pay for it. It can result in slower compilers and larger program libraries. Our compiler (for MVS) currently generates DIANA; it would be a very simple matter to add ASIS generation -- just send money. However, I've been lobbying in-house to scrub down the DIANA to a much simpler internal form, deleting a lot of the attributes that are only there for use by future tools. This would make the compiler a lot faster and the libraries at least a factor of three smaller. Telesoft and Rational have technology which generates and retains a lot of data in the libraries. Providing an ASIS interface is convenient for them. Vendors who have, or wish to have, leaner compilers may not be able to meet the ASIS specification. We estimate that supporting ASIS requires that the compiler generate and retain over 1000 bytes of information per line compiled. In my opinion, ASIS has been defined as "everything that Telesoft and Rational happen to have in their libraries", rather than "everything that a reasonable tool vendor needs and cannot easily compute for him/herself". I'd rather see Ada compilers become as small and fast as C compilers than see richer tool support. ASIS precludes small and fast. I'd rather see Ada compilers get cheaper, instead of providing more functions. ASIS will cost something to implement; increase the size and complexity of the compiler source code that has to be maintained; and, no doubt, create an additional validation burden eventually; I think that small/fast/cheap would be better for the acceptance of Ada than ASIS support could ever be. These are just my opinions -- I don't control the direction of Intermetrics' compiler technology. Our customers control it through their purchasing habits. If you talk to us, we'll tell you that ASIS support means slower compilers and bigger libraries and let you make the tradeoff. If you just put it in your RFPs, standards, or regulations without asking the cost, we'll comply, whatever the cost. So please, don't jump on the ASIS bandwagon too fast. At least wait until more than one vendor implements it. See how well it works on your PC's and in your large projects. Find out whether users turn the ASIS option off in order to get their work done. If ASIS's cost in size and speed are acceptable, then it's a good thing. But that is yet to be demonstrated. Mike Ryer Intermetrics