Re: Is DoD simulation ignoring using Ada?????

[dweller@Starbase.NeoSoft.COM (David Weller)]

In article <3c2jv2$gvh@ra.nrl.navy.mil>,
Doc Elliott <helliott@losat.redstone.army.mil> wrote:
>In article <D0DGF8.IGJ@world.std.com>, srctran@world.std.com (Gregory Aharonian) says:
>>
>    From the POV of one who deals with this on a everyday basis, there are some
>explanations in order.  First of all, based on previous posts here in CLA, there
>are no tools available to support Ada bindings to the DIS protocol (yet?).  There are
>several sets of tools in C and C++ (Loral's CLIP, I believe, is a good example,
>as well as Mak Technology's VRLink).
>
Coleman Research Corp has created Ada VR-Link, in cooperation with
Mak Technology.  Sadly, the Ada product costs more than the C++
product.  IMHO, perhaps the MOST STUPID marketing decision I've seen
(but not unusual).  One day, other vendors will follow the lead of
SGI, and proce their products on par.  Until then, the cost will
drive decisions toward C++ (the sad thing is that I've seen deltas of
even 10% make a decision maker switch to C++).  Anyway, here's the
number for COleman Research: (205)922-6010.  The guy's name is Mike
O'Connor (he's the one you talk to for tech questions).  He can also
be reashed via e-mail at moconnor@hsv.crc.com.

>    The perception also exists that Ada does not support graphics as well as C and
>C++.  The SGI platform that most of our Virtual Prototypes run on is rich with
>such tools as Paradigm Sims (audio) and Software Systems Multigen which works
>well with the Paradigm "Vision Works" tools.  All of this stuff is C based,
>commercially available, pretty well rung out, and has a good user base.  Also,
>all of the Modualr Semi-Automated Forces (ModSAF) stuff with which you have to
>play in DIS is written in C.  Big legacy.
>
Yup.  Good thing I' have clean interfacing with SGI's products (which
cost the same as their C and C++ solutions).  I'm writing Performer
stuff entirely in Ada.  Runs as fast as the C stuff, sometimes even
faster.  Yup.  At least there's no rampant ignorance on this end.

>Greg, I agree with you most of the time.  But in this case, I had my contractor
>look into doing our VPS in Ada, and the result was: "Sure!  We'd love to!  Now,
>about the extra gazigabuck for the additional programmer for writing the DIS
>PDU interface, and oh, there's a bunch of extra effort for rendering the
>graphics, and our whole team has no Ada experience, and what compilers should
>we look into, and . . . ."  I was unable to overcome the reality.
>
>BTW, anybody out there want a viable product to work on?  Build a robust set
>of Ada tools for DIS interface, and you probably got a long term business
>proposition.  I just wish I could afford a Windows Ada compiler...
>

Redstone, eh?  Gee, Coleman Research is just down the road in
Huntsville, Alabama.  GO talk to them, they might be able to cure the
ills that some of your coworkers have.  We have some very interesting
stuff we've done with Performer too.


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