Re: Feasibility of using Ada in new development

[dan.r.mcleran@seagate.com (Dan McLeran)]

> We are all zealots for one thing or another.  As far as what he says,
> I know and have worked with Java for three years.  I took a
> VisualBasic.NET class in school and I hated it.  So I guess that makes
> us even.
> 
> What I was trying to get across is my first message which must have
> been confusing for some is that I am interested in choosing a language
> that lets me develop excellant software with a minimum of the problems
> that are so prevalent in the C/C++ world.  And yes, I've been working
> with C for 14 years.  I'm uncomfortable writing a full suite of
> financial applications in C or C++.
> 
> The applications need to be able to be run in a graphical environment
> or accessed using a web browser.  Even using curses is okay.  Those of
> you who have watched a clerk enter timecards in a non graphical
> environment know what I mean when I say a GUI generally slows most
> users down when they are doing data entry.
> 
> I guess I need to learn Ada better.
> 
> By the way, the applications would be based on Linux using GNAT and
> PostgreSQL.

Ada is a great language, but you might want to check out Eiffel. Here
are a couple of useful links:

http://www.eiffel.com/
http://smarteiffel.loria.fr/
http://www.artima.com/articles/index.jsp?topic=eiffel

Pay especially close attention to how design-by-contract is embedded
within the Eiffel language to help build better software. Also, Eiffel
is a purely OO language without the shortcuts available to C/C++ and
Java programmers that compromise software quality.

As far as Ada is concerned, I recently gave the GNAT Pro toolsuite a
test drive for my own company's development needs and came away
unimpressed. I think the Ada language is great, but these tools leave
alot to be desired. Aonix makes an Ada plugin for Eclipse
(www.eclipse.org) that might be quit nice, but I have not tried it
(http://www.eclipseplugincentral.com/displayarticle197.html).

The GUI creation tool, GtkAda, was laughable as compared to something
like .Net or even some of the free Java GUI creation tools out there.
Also, the IDE was not nearly up to par as compared to MS .Net,
Eclipse, or Borland.