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=2.1 required=5.0 tests=BAYES_40,INVALID_MSGID, REPLYTO_WITHOUT_TO_CC autolearn=no autolearn_force=no version=3.4.4 X-Google-Language: ENGLISH,ASCII-7-bit X-Google-Thread: 103376,8fba9f5c34fa11d3 X-Google-Attributes: gid103376,public From: Lowe Anthony A Subject: Re: Rational Apex Date: 1998/08/07 Message-ID: <35CAFB5E.B07BE198@cacd.rockwell.com>#1/1 X-Deja-AN: 378831333 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit References: <6q8ab6$3dg$1@newnews.startext.net> <6q9qi3$98n@universe.digex.net> <6qa2n2$4d5@newshub.atmnet.net> <35C8AA20.794B@collins.rockwell.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Organization: Rockwell A&C Mime-Version: 1.0 Reply-To: aalowe@cacd.rockwell.com Newsgroups: comp.lang.ada Date: 1998-08-07T00:00:00+00:00 List-Id: Roy is totally right. For the standard everyday user I equate Apex as driving a circus train to get to work. There can be a ton of overhead just to get the first file put in and compiled. When it comes to the build manager, QA, CCB members, Apex is their best friend. It has quite a few very useful tools and utilities available, but if you are used to a MS interface, it can be quite annoying. As for suggestions/ recommendations: * Learn as much about the Apex tools and how the components function (i.e. subsystem versus view versus history). If you architect correctly, it can be years of easy sailing. If you just throw something together, you will spend more time fighting the tool than building with it. (Another fact true of Ada). * Provide the correct training to the specific job functions. The standard developer needs to have a basic understanding of how Apex does stuff, but does not need gory details about the underbelly of the program. Spend the money however to get the development environment people up to speed on how to manage Apex. This will save much time, dollars, and frustration in the long run. * The RCI capability Roy spoke of is beautiful for replacing 'obsolete' environments with a nice push button GUI. We have quite extensively used a RCI to replace a VAX command line environment and it is immensely helpful. If you choose to use a GUI compiler (GNAT, ObjectAda) the utility of the RCI dramatically drops, since the GUI environments provided by the other compiler are most often easier to use than Apex. * Overall, like Roy said, Apex is a great tool if you need strong Configuration Management, Change Management, and have a very diverse or changing product. I find it quite cumbersome to use as just a coding environment (especially if you have PC's in front of the developers and they have to XWindow over to a server to use it!). If you have a simple product, I would think hard about a smaller product. Good Luck! -- Tony Lowe Rockwell Collins 1431 Opus Place - Downers Grove, IL 60515 (630)-960-8603 Fax : (630)-960-8207