From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 3.4.4 (2020-01-24) on polar.synack.me X-Spam-Level: X-Spam-Status: No, score=-1.9 required=5.0 tests=BAYES_00 autolearn=unavailable autolearn_force=no version=3.4.4 Path: eternal-september.org!reader01.eternal-september.org!reader02.eternal-september.org!news.eternal-september.org!mx02.eternal-september.org!feeder.eternal-september.org!aioe.org!newsfeed.CARNet.hr!news.metronet.hr!news1.t-com.hr!newsVIP.hr!not-for-mail From: Gour Newsgroups: comp.lang.ada Subject: community-based compiler (was Re: What exactly is the licensing situation with GNAT?) Date: Fri, 14 Nov 2014 08:50:46 +0100 Organization: VIP-NET Message-ID: <20141114085046.4cb00404@atmarama.ddns.net> References: <87fvdr2vdv.fsf@adaheads.sparre-andersen.dk> <54609F34.4080201@spam.spam> <35f01472-3510-4f67-8765-006fa8591c35@googlegroups.com> <9tc8w.73007$ZT5.37595@fx07.iad> <22a3816a-4e89-48f0-a126-dce581781beb@googlegroups.com> <084b1934-9641-425e-85ec-293e0334413e@googlegroups.com> <86bf69c8-eb08-4696-b6c9-3784f5c42213@googlegroups.com> <87389olqie.fsf@ixod.org> <3516753b-5304-408d-99c8-67f544fdc185@googlegroups.com> NNTP-Posting-Host: 109.227.32.22 Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Trace: sopnews1.vipnet.hr 1415951446 122 109.227.32.22 (14 Nov 2014 07:50:46 GMT) X-Complaints-To: abuse@vip.hr NNTP-Posting-Date: Fri, 14 Nov 2014 07:50:46 +0000 (UTC) X-Newsreader: Claws Mail 3.11.1 (GTK+ 2.24.25; x86_64-pc-linux-gnu) Xref: news.eternal-september.org comp.lang.ada:23267 Date: 2014-11-14T08:50:46+01:00 List-Id: On Thu, 13 Nov 2014 15:56:35 -0800 (PST) David Botton 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?