Re: Decent ADA compiler on a Mac

[kilgallen@eisner.decus.org (Larry Kilgallen, LJK Software)]

In article <1995Mar20.152421.24324@cs.wm.edu>, collins@cs.wm.edu (Bob Collins) writes:

> (BTW, MetroWerks sells a CD with integrated development environment
> compilers for Pascal, C, and C++; with code generators for
> Mac Motorola 680x0, Mac Power PC, and Windows Intel 80x86/Pentium;
> running fat on both 680x0 and Power PC for an academic price of $99.
> This entitles one to three CDs in one year. This is the kind of
> competition Ada faces in the real world, if one can label the
> academic world real. I don't work for them, so no email addresses
> or phone numbers.)

I got the impression that Symantec, an older competitor to Metrowerks,
was trying to team with Language Systems to let the Language Systems
Pascal compiler be integrated into the new Symantec Rainbow IDE.

If Rainbow (a code name -- ships in the latest Symantec C) is receptive
to additional compilers (as distinguished from being receptive only to
the addition of Pascal), that might be a nice resting place for an Ada
compiler.  I don't know if GNAT would be a possibility, since the deal
with Language Systems would be a commercial one.

At the present time, I doubt that MetroWerks would be interested in Ada,
since they have absolutely no interest in supporting Standard Pascal --
the owner indicated at San Francisco MacWorld that their only reason for
adding object Pascal (Macintosh style) features in an upcoming release
is due to the existing installed base using that dialect.

But for all those who think making Ada compilers available will make Ada
popular, be forewarned that restricting programmers to a command language
interface is a good way to shut out all but the Ada die-hards.

Most Macintosh programmers will ask "Why should I switch to your language
if it looks like Unix."  Apple must continue supporting MPW for their
installed base, but Think Pascal led the way and now there are two
vigorous vendors trying to outdo each other's C/C++ IDE.

Larry Kilgallen