Re: Future with Ada

[Mr. Caffiene <nospam@attbi.com>]

On Tue, 18 Dec 2001 11:41:08 -0500
"Marin David Condic" <dont.bother.mcondic.auntie.spam@[acm.org> wrote:

> As well you know, Bob, I'm much in favor of the notion of making money from
> the development of software. I think in particular that I liked the idea you
> expressed in this and other papers that one of the best ways to promote Ada
> and encourage its use is to demonstrate how people can make money by
> developing in Ada.
> 
> Many companies don't necessarily know about or believe in the benefits of
> using Ada because they have not witnessed the tangible monetary benefits of
> doing so. If their competitors were using Ada and developing better
> software, faster and cheaper, then they'd have to take a look at that.
> 
> Many individual programmers are reluctant to learn or use Ada because they
> don't see a job future in it. They see thousands of ads for jobs using other
> languages and few ads for Ada positions. If they saw more companies using
> Ada, they might be encouraged to want to earn a living that way.
> 
> If the ad-hoc developers out there saw a chance to develop something in Ada
> that might gain them fame and fortune rather than just the undying gratitude
> of end users and corporations who picked up their work at no cost, there
> might be more of them flocking to the fold. Perhaps that's where I was
> headed by suggesting the construction of some commercial product in Ada that
> would compete against some of the other big time apps out there. If Ada is
> so great, it ought to be possible to build something that competes
> effectively with the big guys, produces a better quality end product for the
> consumer, makes money for those involved and produces more tools/utilities
> for the Ada community. Seems like everyone could win.
> 
> MDC

I understand your reasoning here, however I get the impression (although I could be mistaken) that you beleive money is always the primary motivating factor for software development.
I disagree strongly. For several reasons...

1. I develope software because I enjoy it. Ada95 has made this process even more enjoyable because it cuts down on the number of hoops I have to jump through in order to get a piece of software just right. In many cases I can actually track and prove a procedure from start to finish. I see it as a sort of "zen" like artform, rather than as a die hard science.
Sure, I might end up getting a financial reward by being hired somewhere, or perhaps by re-licensing the code to a commercial house. But that would sort of be icing on the cake.

2. As far as developing a "big-time" application, arent there many such apps already mature and floating around for additions and improvements. Apache, the Linux kernel, PostGres SQL, etc... (not to mention the GNU system which runs on just about every Unix and Non-Unix platform out there.) These were developed not by a few developers hoping to make a profit, but rather by significantly sized groups of developers exchanging thier "ideas"(the code just happened to be a mode of communication).
As far as this goes, I'm currently working on a Plan9/Inferno type virtual kernel designed for complete transparency over most networks. This might take off, might not, but I sure am having fun experimenting and learning from it.

3. If money was the primary motivating factor for development, I beleive that if it were possible, there would be an even smaller pool of competent developers among todays "digeratti", and software in general would be in an even worse condition than it is now. A person doesn't endeavor to master something they dont enjoy when half-assed will get them paid just as well. Notice the current crop of cookie cutter developers pouring out of colleges and universities these days. They're in it because they expect to be well paid, unfortunately they end up developing software that I wouldn't pay 10 cents for. Note: This particular comment is directed at those who have taken the time to master thier field of software development. 

I hope this helps clarify some of the reasons that I write software. I cant speak for everyone, but I'm sure there are at least a "few" who might agree with me. ;->

I'm not slamming you either Mr. Condic. Just trying to point out some inconsistencies in your rather sweeping generalization about software developers.


As far as advancing Ada(95) goes; it would seem that allowing would-be Ada developers access to the source code, so as to prove in practice the benefits that Ada brings to the table, would be a much more convincing way to target developers rather than using statistics that are second and third level removed from a project and using anecdotal stories.

At least, that's my .02 worth. ;->

Chris
Mcdoobie
chris@dont.spam.me