GNAT and AdaSage

GNAT and AdaSage

[@ 1994-11-08 5:49 UTC (permalink / raw)]

Does anybody know if INEL (Idaho National Engineering Laboratory) has built
AdaSage libraries for GNAT yet?  I have a CD-ROM with libraries for DOS and
Unix for the Aetech, Alsys, Janus, Meridian Verdix, and Sun Ada compilers.  I
haven't worked with GNAT and I am currently studying the possibility of using
this compiler along with or instead of the out of date Alsys compiler which we
currently use.  BTW, my boss does not like this idea at all, citing MC policy 
on the use of freeware and shareware.  For the good of John and Jane Doe 
taxpayer, I'de like to think that GNAT's CopyLeft circumvents this issue.

As for objections brought forward several months ago by Dr. Riehle, subsidzing 
software companies isn't my job at the moment.  Personally, I think that GNAT
puts the emphasis on Ada where it belongs.  That emphasis, for my section, is
on training.  If we could spend all the money that we have spent on software on
training, I think our programing section would be a far better off.  Turning 
highschool graduates into accomplished Ada software engineers is a tricky
business at best.

One thing that the has been done correctly is keeping INEL the sole custodian
of AdaSage.  I shudder to think what AdaSage would be like if every programer
in the MC/Navy had their own personal copy.  In a best case scenario, I suppose
we might have a libraries built for GNAT.  My only wish is for INEL do be more
proactive and supportive of MC/Navy programming efforts including training the
Marine who must use their product.

Well, there goes my brilliant career in public service...


Chris Bryden
Cpl., USMC
green, one each
brydenc@okinawa.usmc.mil

Re: GNAT and AdaSage

[WLawton]

In article <1994Nov8.054936.17363@newsserver.rrzn.uni-hannover.de>, 
(Software Droid) writes:

>Does anybody know if INEL (Idaho National Engineering Laboratory) has
built
>AdaSage libraries for GNAT yet?

Short answer:  No, they have not made that port yet.

Long answer:  I attended the AdaSAGE users group meeting at Tri-Ada last
night.  GNAT is in the schedule, but not in the immediate future.  The
INEL is currently porting the libraries to a couple of commercial
compilers.  That work is nearing completion.  A informal audience survey
indicated a large (50% of attendees) interest in AdaSAGE under Ada9x and
GNAT.  The AdaSAGE Engineering Management Group will be addressing this
question in more detail over the next few months.

Regards
Wayne R. Lawton
Lawton Software, Inc.

Re: GNAT and AdaSage

[Robert Dewar]

If the objection to "freeware and shareware" is based on a dislike for
low prices for software licenses, then there is nothing much that can
be done (although there is nothing illegal about selling GNAT for high
prices if someone insists on paying :-)

If the objection is based on lack of guaranteed high quality support, then
that's reasonable, if your application requires such support. That's why
support is being made available on an unbundled basis. Right now, ACT,
Ada Core Technologies, is getting into this business, as are some other
companies.

Re: GNAT and AdaSage

[Richard Riehle]

In article <1994Nov8.054936.17363@newsserver.rrzn.uni-hannover.de> (Software Droid) writes:
>
>As for objections brought forward several months ago by Dr. Riehle, subsidzing 
   No, No, No!  I am not oppoosed to GNAT.  I support the efforts of ACT.
   I don't recall exactly how I phrased my earlier remarks regarding this
   topic, but I apparently did not make myself clear.  I am not anti-ACT.

   Both GNAT and ACT will be good for the Ada industry.  Just as AdaSage,
   another DoD funded project has been beneficial for Ada.

   My point is that I do no want to see those companies who have devoted
   many years and millions of dollars to supporting Ada driven out of the
   Ada business as a consequence of DoD-funded competition. I shall continue
   to support them if they deliver quality products, reasonably priced and
   well-supported. Where GNAT-based products are superior, there will be no
   alternative but to choose quality.

   In particular, the SGI strategy with GNAT/ACT is well-planned, and focused
   on serving a customer base with reliable products. And that strategy is
   coupled with a quality-assurance effort. On the other hand, GNAT
   "ports", being easy to accompish,  are not guaranteed to subscribe to
   same level of quality we expect from SGI.

   Therefore, when we do decide to use GNAT, it will be only after we are
   sure that an implementation has attempted to achieve the same level of
   quality we have come to expect from the current Ada 83  commerical   
   compiler vendors.

   We hope that GNAT and ACT will have the effect of driving some Ada compiler
   vendors to produce even better products as competitive prices.

   Richard Riehle