Re: Ada -vs- GNAT

[Richard Riehle <richard@adaworks.com>]

Robert Dewar wrote:

> What people differ on is the definition of essential. We are in the business
> of meeting our customers needs. If there is a customer who needs a new feature,
> and if the feature makes sense, and if it is generally useful, then we see it
> as essential :-)

A long time ago, in a far away place called Data Processing Land,  we had
languages such as COBOL, and compiler publishers addressed specific
user and platform needs by adding new reserved words and other features
to the language.    ACT appears to be taking a more responsible approach
by 1)  not adding new features to the language,  2) tailoring their compiler
through the use of pragmas and attributes as authorized by the ALRM, and
3) making it possible to avoid these additions by configuration pragmas.
This seems pretty reasonable to me, and I am, as you all know, a pretty
unreasonable person.

Richard Riehle