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,FREEMAIL_FROM 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: 2001-07-31 21:27:00 PST Path: archiver1.google.com!newsfeed.google.com!newsfeed.stanford.edu!news-spur1.maxwell.syr.edu!news.maxwell.syr.edu!newsfeed.mathworks.com!cyclone.swbell.net!cyclone-sf.pbi.net!206.13.28.33!news.pacbell.net.POSTED!not-for-mail Message-ID: <3B678642.2A1ABEDA@sneakemail.com> From: Russ <18k11tm001@sneakemail.com> X-Mailer: Mozilla 4.77 [en] (X11; U; Linux 2.4.3-20mdk i686) X-Accept-Language: en MIME-Version: 1.0 Newsgroups: comp.lang.ada Subject: Re: How to make Ada a dominant language References: <5267be60.0107311835.217a59ca@posting.google.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Date: Tue, 31 Jul 2001 21:32:02 -0700 NNTP-Posting-Host: 63.194.87.148 X-Complaints-To: abuse@pacbell.net X-Trace: news.pacbell.net 996640014 63.194.87.148 (Tue, 31 Jul 2001 21:26:54 PDT) NNTP-Posting-Date: Tue, 31 Jul 2001 21:26:54 PDT Organization: SBC Internet Services Xref: archiver1.google.com comp.lang.ada:10914 Date: 2001-07-31T21:32:02-07:00 List-Id: Mike Silva wrote: > > 18k11tm001@sneakemail.com (Russ) wrote in message news:... > > The Ada programming language is based on an excellent fundamental > > design, but it is much less popular than it could be because it has an > > awkward, "klunky" syntax. I propose to clean up the syntax by > > borrowing from Python. Python is very popular high level "scripting" > > language with a reputation for promoting clean, clear code. The new > > syntax could be translated into Ada95 syntax with a relatively simple > > "preprocessor," so existing compilers could still be used, old code > > would continue to work, and programmers could continue to use the old > > syntax if they wish. > > > > Here are the syntax changes I propose: > > > > Alright, personal testimony time... > > I discovered Ada a few years ago, coming from two decades of C and > later C++. It never occurred to me that Ada should look like C (or > Python, or ???), and I don't understand why some people make such an > issue about it. I don't find the syntax awkward or klunky at all. I > find that I enjoy reading Ada source code, kind of like looking at the > innards of a fine machine. Ada source has a nice flow to it -- it > doesn't cram too much symbolic information into too little space. > When I go back to some well-packed C source I get annoyed that I have > to concentrate so much harder to pick apart the pieces. In the end it > takes me more time to comprehend the fewer characters. (OK, I do > still miss [], but it's a very small price indeed.) > > All this concern about typing a few extra characters makes no sense to > me. My guess is that it's just part of the larger "no time to think, > gotta start coding!" mentality of so many programmers (I know, I've > still not completely shaken the virus myself). Sometimes I think we'd > have a great boost in software quality if we'd just force programmers > to type only with their index fingers. > > Mike Like so many of the other posters here, you are missing the point. I am not suggesting for a minute that C has a better syntax. Nor am I suggesting that the amount of typing is the issue. The issue is extraneous clutter in the code. 99% of semicolons are extraneous clutter. Many languages, such as Python and Fortran 95 manage just fine without them. And, for Pete's sake, NO I am not suggesting that Fortran 95 is better overall than Ada! Russ