comp.lang.ada
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From: Ken Garlington <garlingtonke@lmtas.lmco.com>
Subject: Re: Ada is 'better' than C because...
Date: 1996/08/06
Date: 1996-08-06T00:00:00+00:00	[thread overview]
Message-ID: <320729F1.1ADC@lmtas.lmco.com> (raw)
In-Reply-To: 3205F296.41C6@wgs.estec.esa.nl


Sandy McPherson wrote:
> 
> To get an objective view of whether one language is better than the
> other, one has to evaluate statistics on error densities in comparable
> systems written in the protagonist languages. Most people who have done
> this come to this conclusion: the choice of programming language only
> counts if the choice is between assembler and something else; and for
> most mainstream higher languages the process of software development is
> the determining factor. Try starting with a paper by Les Hutton, "Static
> inspection - must have or might have?", published in IEEE software 1995,
> which gives references to other interesting reading.

For a counter-example, see this study (which did evaluate error densities):

  http://sw-eng.falls-church.va.us/AdaIC/docs/reports/cada/cada_art.html

From the summary:

"The choice of programming language is only one of many factors in project successes 
and failures. In our opinion, it is NOT the most important.... The language choice may 
only change expenses by a factor of two. Of course, a million dollars here and a 
million dollars there and pretty soon you're talking about real money."

So, although other factors such as software process may have a greater impact, at
least this study indicates that choice of programming language is a significant
issue. In this study, the same project done in C and Ada had significantly lower
error densities in the C version.

> 
> Sandy McPherson

-- 
LMTAS - "Our Brand Means Quality"




  reply	other threads:[~1996-08-06  0:00 UTC|newest]

Thread overview: 253+ messages / expand[flat|nested]  mbox.gz  Atom feed  top
1996-06-19  0:00 C is 'better' than Ada because Alan Brain
1996-06-20  0:00 ` Ron Thompson
1996-06-22  0:00 ` Nasser Abbasi
1996-06-22  0:00   ` David Morton
1996-06-22  0:00     ` Robert Dewar
1996-06-23  0:00       ` The Deviant
1996-06-23  0:00         ` Robert Dewar
1996-06-23  0:00         ` Michael Feldman
1996-06-23  0:00         ` John Winters
1996-06-24  0:00         ` token%/etc/HOSTNAME
1996-06-23  0:00     ` John Winters
1996-06-23  0:00       ` David Morton
1996-06-23  0:00         ` John Winters
1996-06-23  0:00           ` David Morton
1996-06-23  0:00         ` Lawrence Kirby
1996-06-27  0:00           ` ) OH NO "...begs the question..." Ralph Silverman
1996-06-28  0:00             ` Bill Wendling
1996-06-30  0:00   ` C is 'better' than Ada because Nasser Abbasi
1996-06-23  0:00 ` Nasser Abbasi
1996-06-23  0:00   ` Fergus Henderson
1996-06-23  0:00     ` Robert Dewar
1996-06-28  0:00       ` Fergus Henderson
1996-06-29  0:00 ` Kevin D. Quitt
1996-06-29  0:00   ` Robert Dewar
1996-06-30  0:00   ` Fergus Henderson
1996-07-01  0:00     ` Mike Roske
1996-07-01  0:00       ` Robert Dewar
1996-07-02  0:00       ` Ken Garlington
1996-07-03  0:00     ` Kevin D. Quitt
1996-07-04  0:00       ` Ian Ward
1996-07-05  0:00         ` Peter Amey
1996-07-05  0:00           ` Robert Dewar
1996-07-10  0:00             ` James A. Squire
1996-07-15  0:00               ` Oliver Kellogg
1996-07-16  0:00                 ` Oliver Kellogg
1996-07-18  0:00                   ` Fraser Wilson
1996-07-18  0:00                     ` Fergus Henderson
1996-07-19  0:00                   ` Keith Thompson
1996-07-17  0:00                 ` Robert Dewar
1996-07-11  0:00             ` James A. Squire
1996-07-16  0:00             ` Nasser Abbasi
1996-07-16  0:00               ` Mark A Biggar
1996-07-17  0:00             ` Laurent Guerby
1996-07-17  0:00               ` David Emery
1996-07-17  0:00             ` James A. Squire
1996-07-18  0:00             ` James A. Squire
1996-07-07  0:00           ` Kevin D. Quitt
1996-07-08  0:00             ` Ian Ward
1996-07-18  0:00               ` Hamilton Link
1996-07-19  0:00                 ` Kevin D. Quitt
1996-07-08  0:00             ` C is 'better' than Ada ... NOT!! Hugh Dunne
1996-07-08  0:00               ` Frank Manning
1996-07-08  0:00               ` Kevin D. Quitt
1996-07-12  0:00                 ` C is 'better' than Ada because John F. Bode
1996-07-15  0:00                   ` Sandy McPherson
1996-07-18  0:00                     ` Robert Dewar
1996-07-19  0:00                       ` Theodore E. Dennison
1996-07-19  0:00                     ` Theodore E. Dennison
1996-07-19  0:00                     ` Ken Garlington
1996-07-20  0:00                       ` Michael Feldman
1996-07-21  0:00                         ` Alfonso Urdaneta
1996-07-21  0:00                           ` Robert Dewar
1996-07-22  0:00                             ` Kevin D. Quitt
1996-07-22  0:00                               ` Robert Dewar
1996-07-26  0:00                               ` Richard Riehle
     [not found]                             ` <31f3c52e.238719470 <Pine.GSO.3.92.960726122347.25896E-100000@nunic.nu.edu>
1996-07-31  0:00                               ` Darrin Smith
1996-07-31  0:00                                 ` Fergus Henderson
1996-08-01  0:00                                 ` Jerry van Dijk
1996-08-06  0:00                                   ` Kirk Bradley
1996-08-09  0:00                                   ` Richard Riehle
1996-08-10  0:00                                     ` Craig Franck
1996-08-16  0:00                                       ` Richard Riehle
1996-08-18  0:00                                         ` Craig Franck
     [not found]                                       ` <Pine.GSO.3.92.960816102000. <4v5pis$4h1@mtinsc01-mgt.ops.worldnet.att.net>
1996-08-18  0:00                                         ` David Weller
1996-08-15  0:00                                     ` Mike Stark
1996-08-02  0:00                                 ` Robert Dewar
     [not found]                             ` <31f3c52e.238719470 <4uj42h$j06@mtinsc01-mgt.ops.worldnet.att.net>
1996-08-11  0:00                               ` Doug & Rose Miller
1996-08-11  0:00                                 ` Craig Franck
1996-08-11  0:00                                   ` Doug & Rose Miller
1996-08-12  0:00                                     ` Craig Franck
1996-08-16  0:00                                       ` nasser
1996-08-11  0:00                             ` Jon S Anthony
     [not found]                             ` <31f3c52e.238719470 <4v5pis$4h1@mtinsc01-mgt.ops.worldnet.att.net>
1996-08-18  0:00                               ` Doug & Rose Miller
1996-08-20  0:00                                 ` Craig Franck
1996-07-23  0:00                         ` Ken Garlington
1996-07-27  0:00                       ` Tim Behrendsen
1996-07-27  0:00                         ` Lawrence Kirby
1996-07-29  0:00                         ` Ian Ward
1996-07-30  0:00                         ` Bob Cousins
1996-07-30  0:00                           ` Robert Dewar
1996-09-05  0:00                             ` Bob Cousins
1996-08-13  0:00                       ` Jon S Anthony
1996-08-14  0:00                         ` Craig Franck
1996-08-28  0:00                           ` Van Snyder
1996-08-14  0:00                       ` Jon S Anthony
1996-08-15  0:00                         ` Craig Franck
1996-08-15  0:00                           ` Joe Gwinn
1996-08-16  0:00                             ` Don Nelson
1996-08-19  0:00                               ` Joe Gwinn
1996-08-19  0:00                                 ` Ken Garlington
1996-08-28  0:00                         ` Van Snyder
1996-08-30  0:00                           ` Norman H. Cohen
1996-08-15  0:00                       ` Stefan 'Stetson' Skoglund
1996-08-15  0:00                       ` Jon S Anthony
1996-08-20  0:00                         ` nasser
1996-08-15  0:00                     ` David Weller
1996-08-15  0:00                       ` William  C Brennan
1996-07-08  0:00             ` Robert Dewar
1996-07-10  0:00               ` Peter Hermann
1996-07-15  0:00                 ` Tim McGuire
1996-07-16  0:00                   ` Kevin D. Quitt
1996-07-16  0:00                     ` Robert Dewar
1996-07-18  0:00                     ` Ken Garlington
1996-07-19  0:00                       ` Kevin D. Quitt
1996-07-19  0:00                         ` Richard O'Rourke
1996-07-22  0:00                           ` Kevin D. Quitt
1996-07-22  0:00                             ` Robert Dewar
1996-07-23  0:00                               ` Tim Behrendsen
1996-07-24  0:00                                 ` Dirk Dickmanns
1996-07-24  0:00                                 ` Theodore E. Dennison
1996-07-27  0:00                                   ` Tim Behrendsen
1996-07-29  0:00                                     ` Dirk Dickmanns
1996-07-30  0:00                                       ` Tim Behrendsen
1996-07-31  0:00                                         ` Dirk Dickmanns
1996-07-31  0:00                                           ` Kevin D. Quitt
1996-08-01  0:00                                             ` Alan Brain
1996-08-02  0:00                                               ` Kevin D. Quitt
1996-08-05  0:00                                                 ` Byron B. Kauffman
1996-08-15  0:00                                               ` Mike Roske
1996-08-15  0:00                                                 ` David Shochat
1996-08-16  0:00                                                   ` Ken Garlington
1996-08-16  0:00                                                 ` Jon S Anthony
1996-08-16  0:00                                                 ` John Herro
1996-08-16  0:00                                                   ` John Herro
1996-08-05  0:00                                             ` Robb Nebbe
1996-08-02  0:00                                           ` Dirk Dickmanns
1996-07-31  0:00                                         ` whiting_ms@corning.com (Matt Whiting)
1996-07-29  0:00                                     ` Bob Kitzberger
1996-07-30  0:00                                       ` Tim Behrendsen
1996-07-30  0:00                                         ` Theodore E. Dennison
1996-07-30  0:00                                         ` Richard A. O'Keefe
1996-07-30  0:00                                           ` Tim Behrendsen
1996-07-29  0:00                                     ` Ada is 'better' than C because John Herro
1996-07-30  0:00                                       ` Brian Rogoff
1996-07-30  0:00                                         ` Adam Beneschan
1996-07-31  0:00                                         ` Franz Kruse
1996-08-04  0:00                                       ` Richard Riehle
1996-08-05  0:00                                         ` Sandy McPherson
1996-08-06  0:00                                           ` Ken Garlington [this message]
1996-08-06  0:00                                             ` GAFFNEY.BRIAN
1996-08-07  0:00                                               ` Ken Garlington
1996-08-08  0:00                                             ` Theodore E. Dennison
1996-08-08  0:00                                               ` Frank Lipski
1996-08-09  0:00                                             ` Sandy McPherson
1996-08-15  0:00                                             ` Mike Stark
1996-08-07  0:00                                           ` Bob Kitzberger
1996-08-08  0:00                                           ` Robert Dewar
1996-08-08  0:00                                             ` Kevin D. Quitt
1996-07-30  0:00                                     ` C is 'better' than Ada because Theodore E. Dennison
1996-08-08  0:00                                     ` Ada is 'better' than C because William Clodius
1996-08-09  0:00                                       ` Kevin D. Quitt
1996-08-09  0:00                                       ` Robert Dewar
1996-08-12  0:00                                       ` OBryan Anthony H
1996-08-12  0:00                                         ` Lawrence Kirby
1996-08-12  0:00                                         ` Bob Kurtz
1996-08-13  0:00                                         ` Tom Watson
1996-08-14  0:00                                         ` Robert Dewar
1996-07-29  0:00                                   ` C is 'better' than Ada because system
1996-07-30  0:00                                     ` Tim Behrendsen
1996-07-24  0:00                                 ` JamesS1889
1996-07-25  0:00                                 ` Alan Brain
1996-07-23  0:00                               ` Theodore E. Dennison
1996-07-23  0:00                               ` Kevin D. Quitt
1996-07-24  0:00                                 ` Theodore E. Dennison
1996-07-24  0:00                                   ` Kevin D. Quitt
1996-07-25  0:00                                     ` Steve Howard
1996-07-25  0:00                                     ` Alan Brain
1996-07-27  0:00                                     ` Bob Kitzberger
1996-07-26  0:00                                   ` Mike Roske
1996-07-25  0:00                                 ` Fergus Henderson
1996-07-25  0:00                                   ` Kevin D. Quitt
1996-07-26  0:00                                     ` Fergus Henderson
1996-07-26  0:00                                     ` kennedy1
1996-07-18  0:00                     ` Bob Gilbert
1996-07-19  0:00                       ` Kevin D. Quitt
1996-07-10  0:00               ` John F. Bode
1996-07-11  0:00                 ` Mike Roske
     [not found]               ` <4rvr2j$2gb0@info4.rus.uni-s <nhn30yhw6t.fsf@paralysys>
1996-07-18  0:00                 ` Robert Dewar
1996-07-18  0:00                 ` Kevin D. Quitt
1996-07-26  0:00                 ` Richard Riehle
1996-07-10  0:00             ` Stephen M O'Shaughnessy
1996-07-10  0:00               ` Peter Seebach
1996-07-18  0:00             ` Brian Rogoff
1996-07-19  0:00             ` James A. Squire
1996-07-29  0:00             ` William Clodius
1996-07-30  0:00               ` Robert Dewar
1996-07-31  0:00                 ` Tim Behrendsen
     [not found]                   ` <9608020139.AA29105@pulsar.telesoft>
1996-08-02  0:00                     ` Tim Behrendsen
1996-08-05  0:00                       ` Kevin D. Quitt
1996-08-06  0:00                         ` is Ada 'better' than C? (Was: Re: C is 'better' than Ada because...) Antoine Leca
1996-08-06  0:00                           ` Kevin D. Quitt
1996-07-30  0:00               ` C is 'better' than Ada because Richard A. O'Keefe
1996-07-30  0:00                 ` Tim Behrendsen
1996-08-01  0:00                   ` Byron B. Kauffman
1996-08-01  0:00                     ` Ian Ward
1996-07-31  0:00               ` Ralph Silverman
1996-07-30  0:00             ` Robert I. Eachus
1996-08-01  0:00               ` David Wheeler
1996-07-30  0:00             ` William Clodius
1996-08-01  0:00               ` Tim Behrendsen
1996-08-01  0:00             ` Olivier Devuns @pulsar
1996-08-11  0:00             ` Ada 95 is a FREE language (was: C is 'better' than Ada because...) Laurent Guerby
1996-08-11  0:00             ` C is 'better' than Ada because Jon S Anthony
1996-08-12  0:00               ` Craig Franck
1996-08-12  0:00                 ` James A. Squire
1996-08-12  0:00                   ` Craig Franck
1996-08-12  0:00                 ` John Howard
1996-08-13  0:00                   ` Craig Franck
1996-08-13  0:00                     ` Ken Garlington
1996-08-14  0:00                       ` Craig Franck
1996-08-14  0:00                 ` Stephen M O'Shaughnessy
1996-08-14  0:00                 ` Stephen M O'Shaughnessy
     [not found]                 ` <Pine.GS <gwinn-1908961215100001@smc19.ed.ray.com>
1996-08-19  0:00                   ` Adam Beneschan
1996-08-13  0:00             ` Jon S Anthony
1996-08-13  0:00             ` Jon S Anthony
1996-08-14  0:00             ` Norman H. Cohen
1996-08-19  0:00             ` Jon S Anthony
1996-08-20  0:00               ` Craig Franck
1996-08-20  0:00             ` Jon S Anthony
1996-08-21  0:00               ` Craig Franck
1996-08-27  0:00             ` Valentin Bonnard
1996-07-06  0:00         ` Walter B. Hollman Sr.
1996-07-05  0:00       ` Jon S Anthony
1996-07-08  0:00         ` Peter Hermann
1996-07-09  0:00           ` Dirk Dickmanns
1996-07-12  0:00       ` ntxbow
1996-07-15  0:00         ` Kevin D. Quitt
1996-07-15  0:00           ` Robert Dewar
1996-07-16  0:00           ` Ian Ward
1996-07-17  0:00             ` Dale Stanbrough
1996-07-23  0:00       ` Jon S Anthony
1996-07-29  0:00       ` William Clodius
1996-07-31  0:00       ` Darin Johnson
1996-08-01  0:00         ` Tim Behrendsen
1996-08-01  0:00       ` Jon S Anthony
1996-08-01  0:00       ` Jon S Anthony
1996-08-05  0:00       ` Stefan 'Stetson' Skoglund
1996-08-16  0:00       ` Jon S Anthony
     [not found] ` <874508446wnr@t-cubed.demon.co.uk>
1996-06-29  0:00   ` Jon S Anthony
1996-07-01  0:00 ` James A. Squire
1996-07-02  0:00 ` Darin Johnson
1996-07-03  0:00   ` If your only tool is a hammer, all your problems look like nails (was Re: C is 'better' than Ada because...) Bruce Clement
  -- strict thread matches above, loose matches on Subject: below --
1996-08-13  0:00 Ada is 'better' than C because Spasmo
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