Re: Ada Generic vs. C++ Templates

[James Rogers <jimmaureenrogers@worldnet.att.net>]

DuckE wrote:
> 
> You have implied that GNAT implements the entire Ada95 standard.
> 
> While all of the "required" elements are supported, some things are not.
> 
> Just try making use of "Ada.Asynchronous_Task_Control" and you'll get a
> message:
>   Asynchonnous_Task_Control is not implemented.

This, of course, does not even approach the problems found with C++
compilers.

I am sure you will correct me if I am wrong in this. I believe the C++
standard contains no optional annexes. 

GNAT does implement all required features of the Ada language, and
nearly every feature of the optional annexes. You cannot write an Ada
program that compiles in GNAT, using only required features of the 
language, and not successfully compile the same program using another
Ada compiler.

On the other hand, you can easily write a C++ program using the
Microsoft C++ compiler that will not compile properly using the
Watcom C++ compiler. 

The C++ reference manual is larger than the Ada reference manual.
This is only important as an indication of the difficulty of
compiler implementation implied by the size of the document. You
may deny the validity of this measure, but the current lack of
compilers implementing the standard speaks loudly to me. It must be
due to the standard itself. The C++ language standard has too often
ignored the concerns of compiler writers. Features and language
definitions have been placed in the standard to satisfy application
developers without proper concern for the need to implement those
features in a compiler.

Jim Rogers
Colorado Springs, Colorado USA