From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 3.4.4 (2020-01-24) on polar.synack.me X-Spam-Level: X-Spam-Status: No, score=-1.9 required=5.0 tests=BAYES_00 autolearn=ham autolearn_force=no version=3.4.4 X-Google-Language: ENGLISH,ASCII-7-bit X-Google-Thread: 103376,bc1361a952ec75ca X-Google-Attributes: gid103376,public X-Google-ArrivalTime: 2001-07-30 16:16:45 PST Path: archiver1.google.com!newsfeed.google.com!newsfeed.stanford.edu!paloalto-snf1.gtei.net!news.gtei.net!enews.sgi.com!coop.net!newsfeed1.global.lmco.com!svlnews.lmms.lmco.com!news1.lmtas.lmco.com!not-for-mail From: Gary Scott Newsgroups: comp.lang.ada Subject: Re: How to make Ada a dominant language Date: Mon, 30 Jul 2001 18:13:13 -0500 Organization: LM Aeronautics Message-ID: <3B65EA09.F4D7D7EE@lmtas.lmco.com> References: <3B6555ED.9B0B0420@sneakemail.com> <3B655FF1.F5268A37@sneakemail.com> NNTP-Posting-Host: CAA261517.lmtas.lmco.com Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Mailer: Mozilla 4.72 [en]C-CCK-MCD {C-UDP; LMTAS} (WinNT; U) X-Accept-Language: en,pdf Xref: archiver1.google.com comp.lang.ada:10795 Date: 2001-07-30T18:13:13-05:00 List-Id: Hey! we still use Jovial a bunch... Russ Paielli wrote: > > Preben Randhol wrote: > > > > In article <3B6555ED.9B0B0420@sneakemail.com>, Russ Paielli wrote: > > > Preben Randhol wrote: > > > > > > I'll bet nine out of 10 non-Ada-programmers would disagree with you. And > > > that's part of the reason that nine out of ten programmers (or whatever) > > > are non-Ada-programmers. > > > > So what. If they choose not to use Ada because one uses a more readable > > syntax, let them. They obviously haven't grasphed the idea of making > > good quality software and are only too happy hacking in C or Perl or > > whater. Let them. I think rather that this 90% are either ignorant of > > Ada or following the main stream towards the cliffs (read C++, Java > > etc...). > > > > > Because "=" is the simplest fricking symbol that could possibly be used > > > > If you think about it it is more important that your if statments are > > correct than your assignments. Just think about this C line: > > > > if (C = crap) then ... > > > > and of course it will always be true and will compile. I would rather > > have = for this than assignments. > > This is a red herring. You simply don't allow "if (C = crap) then". As I > wrote in my proposal, you use "==" for equality testing IF (IF IF IF IF > IF) it causes any confusion with assignment. > > > > for assignment. Why is this so hard for Ada programmers to understand? > > > What's so great about ":="? Why not use "$=" or "%="? > > > > Because of how colon is used in written language. You can read := as > > "set to equal" or only "set to". > > Then why not just use the colon, without the equals. The ":=" is > redundant. I have yet to see ":=" used in anything I have ever read. > That is NOT how the colon is used in the written language. > > > > What I am proposing would not make programs "less readable." It would > > > make them MORE readable, especially for new Ada programmers. If > > > long-time Ada programmers are unable to see that, I believe Ada will > > > become an obscure niche language, like HAL or Jovial. That would be a > > > terrible shame, because Ada has excellent fundamentals and could become > > > a dominant language. > > > > Sorry but you are barking up the wrong tree as I see it. Rather make > > good free programs in Ada and distribute them under GPL or similar with > > source to get more people aware of Ada. That would help Ada more than > > changing its syntax. > > I think you are barking up the wrong tree. Not only that, you are > putting the cart before the horse. Why do you think so few open-source > programs are written in Ada? I just hope folks like you wake up before > Ada goes the way of HAL and Jovial. > > Russ