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 autolearn=ham autolearn_force=no version=3.4.4 X-Google-Language: ENGLISH,ASCII-7-bit X-Google-Thread: 103376,d56e9913688a6bbb X-Google-Attributes: gid103376,public X-Google-ArrivalTime: 1995-01-30 04:50:49 PST Path: nntp.gmd.de!newsserver.jvnc.net!news.cac.psu.edu!news.pop.psu.edu!psuvax1!uwm.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!news.uh.edu!uuneo.neosoft.com!Starbase.NeoSoft.COM!not-for-mail From: dweller@Starbase.NeoSoft.COM (David Weller) Newsgroups: comp.lang.ada Subject: Re: Meridian v4.1.1 ???? Date: 30 Jan 1995 06:50:49 -0600 Organization: NeoSoft Internet Services +1 713 684 5969 Message-ID: <3ginb9$rpq@Starbase.NeoSoft.COM> References: <3gcaf8$p76@lainet2.lainet.com> <3gghmv$cdh@felix.seas.gwu.edu> NNTP-Posting-Host: starbase.neosoft.com Date: 1995-01-30T06:50:49-06:00 List-Id: In article <3gghmv$cdh@felix.seas.gwu.edu>, Michael Feldman wrote: > >IMHO, Rational would do us all a favor by putting out an authoritative, >quotable statement saying in plain English what is going on. > Let me add my comments here. Back in, hmm, 87-88, I recommended Meridian look into the "BlackBeard" editor. A shareware editor with lots of nice features. Well, sure enough, they did, and decided it was worth including into the Open Ada product. I was rather pleased they did this -- it was quite a powerful editor. When I asked a Rational person (at a certain conference not too long ago) about Open Ada, they did indeed tell me about OpenAda going to DC Heath. The implication I had was the DC Heath bought the masters and was going to sell it basically as an "unmaintained" product. Now, I can't really fault Rational for doing this -- the profit margins were probably in the negative range, and OpenAda doesn't really conform to that "upper class" image they're marketing. Still, I agree with Mike that quietly slipping OpenAda under the rug was a very unwise thing to do, especially considering most students use that as their primary compiler at home and at school. Surrendering that market to GNAT is, IMHO, a Good Thing; however, at least that should have been admitted (I guess they couldn't because that would trash DC Heath's planned profit margins, I suppose). OK, I think I understand now why Rational hasn't said anything. :-) -- Frustrated with C, C++, Pascal, Fortran? Ada95 _might_ be for you! For all sorts of interesting Ada95 tidbits, run the command: "finger dweller@starbase.neosoft.com | more" (or e-mail with "finger" as subj.)