Re: Ada vs Delphi?

["Steve Doiel" <nospam_steved@pacifier.com>]

Andre Ratel wrote in message <37ab421a.5414989@news.total.net>...
>I am currently using Delphi (and Object Pascal) for my scientific
>programming. I heard a lot lately about Ada. From what I have
>seen, its syntax is very similar to Object Pascal. (This is no
>surprise since both languages are derived from Algol.)
>
>What would be the advantages of Ada over Delphi?
>
> Andre
>

In our shop we're using Delphi for visual interfaces and Ada 95 for our
optimization program.

Adavantage of Delphi
  Delphi is hard to beat for quickly assembling a user interface.

Advantage of Ada
  Types may be derived from Ada.Finalization.Controlled in order to
eliminate the risk of memory leaks.  Delphi has no counterpart.  In Delphi
it is easy to create memory leaks.

  Ada is more stronly typed.  In Delphi different types may be freely mixed
in an expression which may lead to suprises (bugs).  In Ada type conversions
must be explicit.

  Ada supports overloading of operators, functions, and procedures.

  Programs written in Ada are more likely to be portable to other
architectures.  Delphi lives only on PC's.

  Ada is available from multiple sources.  If you're not happy with Aonix,
go to AdaCore.  If your not happy with AdaCore go to RRSoftware.  With
Delphi, if you're not happy with Inprise (formerly Borland) you're out of
luck.

  Ada is more fully defined.  With Ada you can refer to the language
reference manual regardless of which compiler you're using and get a fairly
explicit description of how things work.  With Delphi you must often refer
to trial and error.

  Ada includes tasking as a part of the language which makes threaded
applications portable.

I'm sure there are a lot more differences.

I hope this helps,

SteveD