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=-0.8 required=5.0 tests=BAYES_00,INVALID_DATE, MSGID_SHORT autolearn=no autolearn_force=no version=3.4.4 Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!usc!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!bloom-beacon!deccrl!news.crl.dec.com!pa.dec.com!shodha.enet.dec.com!widgit.enet.dec.com!west From: west@widgit.enet.dec.com (Jim West (Stealth Contractor)) Newsgroups: comp.lang.ada Subject: Re: Mindless Transitions! Message-ID: <2196@shodha.enet.dec.com> Date: 1 Jan 91 03:38:56 GMT Sender: news@shodha.enet.dec.com Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation List-Id: My specialty and interests are with the X Window System and graphics. I too am a proponent of Ada, but for the last 6 years I've done graphic work with both Ada and C (as of late) and I don't believe that Ada should be doing graphics at this time. C is much more proficient at it. One of the main reasons I say this is that all graphic systems are not re-entrant which means you basically can't use them from tasks. Another is that systems such as X Window, and PHIGS are implemented in C and are generally expected to be used from same. I find that programmers tend to create a chest full of convenience routines that essentially try to convert the C stuff (like pointers) into Ada defined structures. I really believe that more work is going on than should be done. My main concern with this is for mission critical applications, generally you want code that is _both_ fast and efficient. I know that there is considerable work being done with Ada and X but it still has a way to go. Having been on a couple of projects (DoD) with workstations being the interface and having Ada mandated has caused some problems. I have found that productivity levels for the development of these interfaces just really are not up to par. As I mentioned above, I am a proponent of Ada, and will continue to do work with X and PHIGS because I enjoy the challenge, but I don't believe that Ada should be mandated blindly. Well, I'm stepping off the soap box now so that someone else may have a turn. :^) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Jim West | The Schainker Converse west@widgit.enet.dec.com | to Hoare's Law : | These are my opinions. | Inside every small problem Digital has no idea | is a larger problem struggling what I'm saying. | to get out. ----------------------------------------------------------------------