Re: what does your Ada + hardware look like ?

["Dmitry A. Kazakov" <mailbox@dmitry-kazakov.de>]

On Wed, 7 Oct 2015 04:50:29 -0700 (PDT), halfmaddad@gmail.com wrote:

> You work with landing gear correct?

No, we are doing automation and control.

> Do you run with an OS?

Yes. Windows, VxWorks, Linux/Debian

> I know we can run without one but then we lose
> tasking, nested subprograms and exception handling, no?

Possibly not, but it does not worth the efforts, especially regarding the
BSP.

> So I work with scientific instruments. Sometimes I modify them for people
> but I basically just repair them. I have thought about designing one for a
> long time. It would take a lot less time and I would end up with a better
> product if I could do it in Ada rather then C/C++.

More so. Small firms have no resources to keep a huge stash of boards. The
key advantage of having an OS is that you can switch the board any time
without much trouble and pretty quick. Cheap boards go out of stock in each
2-5 years. You simply would not be able to keep that pace.

> I was wondering about using SPI with a GPIO card but I have not done this
> before. I know there are also USB-GPIO adapters.

If digital I/O is all you need a BB or a RPI has plenty of. Linux drivers
are garbage from the SW POV, but serve the purpose when the frequency is
moderate.

Quality analogue I/O would be problematic. We are using EtherCAT or
MODBUS/TCP terminals. They are relatively inexpensive and for industrial
use have one essential advantage that you can always exchange a terminal if
it burns down.

-- 
Regards,
Dmitry A. Kazakov
http://www.dmitry-kazakov.de