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: 2001-08-01 11:06:46 PST Path: archiver1.google.com!newsfeed.google.com!newsfeed.stanford.edu!news-spur1.maxwell.syr.edu!news.maxwell.syr.edu!out.nntp.be!propagator-dallas!news-in-dallas.newsfeeds.com!cyclone-sf.pbi.net!206.13.28.144!news.pacbell.net.POSTED!not-for-mail Message-ID: <3B684610.B324F495@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: <3B676974.C80C72E5@sneakemail.com> <3B68388A.3B146080@silver.jhuapl.edu> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Date: Wed, 01 Aug 2001 11:10:24 -0700 NNTP-Posting-Host: 63.194.87.148 X-Complaints-To: abuse@pacbell.net X-Trace: news.pacbell.net 996689205 63.194.87.148 (Wed, 01 Aug 2001 11:06:45 PDT) NNTP-Posting-Date: Wed, 01 Aug 2001 11:06:45 PDT Organization: SBC Internet Services Xref: archiver1.google.com comp.lang.ada:10969 Date: 2001-08-01T11:10:24-07:00 List-Id: Scott Ingram wrote: > > > I have a colleague who started programming in Fortran way back in the > > sixties (maybe even the fifties). He is a master algorithm developer and > > programmer. His code is meticulously correct, efficient, and minimal. > > When I introduced him to C and C++ several years ago, he was amazed that > > he had to clutter his code with all those semicolons and constantly put > > up with the compiler's nagging when one is left out. He adapted, of > > course, but his initial reaction was right. All those semicolons are > > nothing more than a lot of noise. They are litter in your code, and if > > you never minded them at all, then your code is probably filled with > > lots of other litter too. If so, I hope it is not being used in any > > safety-critical systems. > > > > Russ Paielli > > Major difference of opinion here: those semicolons are not "litter," > but rather like the firestops in the wall of your house they provide > an added margin of safety by compartmentalizing thoughts as the > firestops compartmentalize the spaces in the structure. Please take a look at how Fortran 95 handles source lines. Now, if you don't like it, that is your perogative, but please don't give me any garbage about how Ada's way is any better. It isn't. The two styles are logically equivalent, but the Fortran style is cleaner and less likely to generate annoying and useless compilation errors. You'll probably be happy to know that I'm about ready to give up on this thing (at least for now). I can't believe all the ridiculous justifications I get for stupid syntax. > As far as Ada's "popularity" goes, I think it fair to argue that it > is more popular now than at any time in its history. Although some > shops have moved away from its use now the dreaded mandate has been > rescinded, there is a lot more traffic on c.l.a from new users who > don't carry baggage from that era. Ya, right. It will be used for a good long time, just like HAL and Jovial. Actually, I wish the best for Ada, but I am not encouraged. Russ