Re: Ada explanation?

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

In article <D2t8F7.CBE@research.att.com>,
Bjarne Stroustrup <9758-26353> 0112760 <9758-26353> wrote:
>dweller@Starbase.NeoSoft.COM (David Weller)
>
> > Oddly, C++ is indeed a language being designed by committee (AND
> > subcommittees!).  
>
>For an explanation of how C++ was designed and how the C++ standards
>committee works see : Stroustrup: ``The Design and Evolution of C++''
>Addison Wesley, 1994.
>

Been there, done that.  Good book, by the way -- I recommend anybody
working in programming read it...anyway on with it...

Excerpt from section 5.4:
"The _committee_ now has something like 250 memebers, out of which
something like 70 turn up at meetings..."

To my knowledge (although Bjarne is certainly a closer source than I
:-), there were a few subcommittees also that provided
recommendations on various topics like RTTI and namespaces.

My point is that Ada is frequently maligned as a language "designed
by committee", a phrase that drips with disgust from many ignorant
software developers.  The truth of the matter is the ISO
standardization process of both languages is similar: both are on the
fast track, both were open to public review (although, IMHO, the
process of improving Ada was much more open, providing free access to
reference manual drafts, requirements specs, formal language
comments, and the rationale).  Ada started the revision in 1988 and
completed in 1994, a total of six years.  C++ started in 1990 (March,
1990, according to the D&E book) and is anticipated to be approved in
1996.  My own personal opinion is there won't be something until '97,
but I emphasize that's MY opinion.

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