community-based compiler (was Re: What exactly is the licensing situation with GNAT?)

[Gour <gour@atmarama.net>]

On Thu, 13 Nov 2014 15:56:35 -0800 (PST)
David Botton <david@botton.com> wrote:

Hello David,

> They did not feel my business model supports the change back to
> GMGPL, even for a targeted market, and the available FSF compilers
> can serve the needs of those other markets.

It's a bit sad to hear it, but let's move forward...

>I encourage people to use and improve the FSF version of GNAT and
> build a stronger community version if Ada is to be advocated beyond
> the niche markets it is in now.

I confess being total greenhorn when it comes to Ada, its compilers and
(their) business models, but there is part in me not liking to see
another Betamax vs VHS battle being won by less capable technology.

Yesterday I researched a bit R.R.Software's web site and found that
their Janus/Ada compiler is "...the only compiler on the market that is
written in Ada and self compiled in a personal computer environment."

It's clear that it's behind Adacore's GNAT, but, maybe, it can be basis
of the future's (more) community-based compiler?

Of course, I do not have the slightest idea about their business model
and whether it's possible to do it, but the point is that (the compiler)
being written in Ada might be more approachable for community members to
help and hack on it.

Here I can think about e.g. Bacula - backup & restore application which
exists as Bacula Systems (http://www.baculasystems.com/) providing
features & support for enterprise customers who are often paying for the
features which are later added to the community version
(http://bacula.org/), but the point is that community is actively
contributing with patches, debugging, bugreports etc. while the main
developers still have enough to pay the bills. :-)

Another example might be Julia language which is hosted at Github and at
the moment there are 4611 star-gazers, 935 forks and 298 contributors
and its ecosystem is growing rapidly.

Based on what I've seen/heard, it seems that Ada community is not much
involved in shaping GNAT, even in its FSF incarnation...


Sincerely,
Gour

-- 
Even a man of knowledge acts according to his own nature, for 
everyone follows the nature he has acquired from the three modes. 
What can repression accomplish?