Re: Ada Calendar oddity <was Re: C date package>

[Charles Hixson <charleshixsn@earthlink.net>]

"Tarjei Tj�stheim Jensen" wrote:

> Charles Hixson wrote:
> >
> > This seems to imply the assumption that the database would not be implemented
> > in Ada.  For some purposes this is reasonable (SQL is frequently nice, and has
> > already been done).  For other purposes it doesn't seem reasonable at all.  If
> > I don't need a full relational database, why should I need to drag one along?
>
> 1. Because a full relational database is VERY nice to have and causes
> few surprises. It is not a matter of not needing one. It is a matter of
> not being able to use one.\

It's certainly nice for a programmer to have the choice of using a relational
database, but for many applications it is extreme overkill, and causes the
applications to bloat so much that more expensive hardware is required to run them.
Sometimes one even wants to store the data in a flat file, load it all into RAM at
program start, and then (maybe) write out any changes at the end.  Relational is
only one option.

> 2. The Ada type is simply not apropriate in this context. This is a
> typical DP application. When doing DP stuff, do it the way DP stuff
> should be done.

If you are talking about the predefined types, then sometimes yes, sometimes no.
But one can always choose to define a type appropriate to the problem at hand.
"Should" is, by definition, correct.  But I doubt that we are in agreement as to
what "the way DP stuff should be done" means.  I see this as very context dependent.

> 3. When implementing Ada support for the database one makes sure that
> one includes the proper date/time stuff into the support library.

If one is using a preexisting private library, then this is correct.  But different
applications have very different needs.  Sometimes the most important thing is that
they be cheap, portable, and small.  Basic ISAM will let one handle many things with
a lot less weight than a full RDBMS.  And a stand-alone executable file is sometimes
what one really wants.

> Greetings,