scripting/extension language for Ada (was : Re: tagged types extensions)

[root <Lionel.Draghi@free.fr>]

Brian Rogoff wrote:
> 
...
> Charles did mention Python/C, and that's something I've been thinking
> about a lot lately; a scripting language written in Ada. Of course, one of
> the reasons for the success of C as a host for scripting languages is the
> enormous base of C code out there, which Ada doesn't have. Nonetheless, a
> scripting/extension language for Ada is an appealing idea.

"scripting/extension language in Ada" and "scripting/extension language
for Ada"
are different issues.
I agree that the later is an appealing idea.
 
I also feel that there is a need for :

1 - a scripting language : it could be a dramatic evolution over the
various shell languages. We all have experienced small shell scripts
that become bigger and bigger and cause stupid bugs that could be easily
avoided by a more strongly typed language. Current scripting languages
are unreadable and dangerous! Some Ada influence in this area would be
great.

2 - an extension language : [x]emacs, autocad, etc... are witnesses of
its importance. Some of the extensions are so big that we can consider
those as small software. How many development effort could be saved
using a language such as Ada? 

My feeling is that a small Ada subset interpreter could meet both needs.
Obviously, file and process management, pattern matching, etc.. should
be addressed in this subset. I am aware of the potential challenge that
could be creating an interpreter of a to ambitious subset of the
language, but we don't need the full Ada power. I think such an
interpreter could be of a reasonable size.
 
> 
> Dylan-over-Ada anyone? Yikes, that acronym is horrible :-)
The most important progress is to have a readable and safe language.
So why Dylan, Perl? Why not something close to Ada syntax? Each time i
need to modify some shell/awk/... scripts written one year ago, i dream
of this Ada Shell! :-)

> 
> -- Brian


________________________________________________________________________
Lionel Draghi                                          http://attac.org/