Re: Where is the elusive jump command?

["Samuel T. Harris" <samuel_t_harris@Raytheon.com>]

"Marin D. Condic" wrote:
> 
> David Starner wrote:
> Aside from the fact that there is tons of Fortran code lying around
> already, is there any reason why "number crunching" or
> "scientific/engineering software" couldn't be taught/done in Ada? My
> Fortran experience was back in the Fortran 77 days and I don't recall
> anything being in the language that couldn't be done just as well - if
> not better - in Ada95. (Especially given Ada's type capabilities and
> precise definitions for math ops, numeric attributes, etc.)
> 
> And if the only argument against it is the tons of existing math
> libraries, then theres Ada's interface capability to argue in its favor.
> 

I remember years ago when Honeywell came out with the DPS-90
computer. I as an Air Force officer which reviewed Ada waivers
for MAC. One development group wanted to use the Fortran
compiler on the DPS-90 because it supported the vector/matrix
processor incorporated in that architecture. They claimed
the Ada compiler did not. This claim remain a valid waiver
excuse for just about 2 hours. That was the time it took
me to write and test an Ada binding to Fortran code thus
provided Ada with access to the very same vector/matrix
processor. Waiver denied!

This is one of my favorite examples of the powerful
interface features of Ada.

-- 
Samuel T. Harris, Principal Engineer
Raytheon, Aerospace Engineering Services
"If you can make it, We can fake it!"