Re: gcc 3.4.2 Ada

[stephane@_delete_this_rochebrune.org (Stephane Riviere)]

>No, I really do not have the time to port gnatwin, gnatcom and gwindows to
>this -to me- confusing set of old tools.

Well... I think I must do something to correct this statement

1)

AIDE is not a confusing set of old tools but a coherent set of
reliables tools, working together gracefully in a consistent directory
structure (keeping Unix directory structure in mind). 

The main AIDE goals are integration, reliability and consistency : it
is not an experimental package nor a slave to fashion. AIDE main tools
are updated  only when it is really needed. (1) 

AIDE is not out of date using 3.15p and GtkAda 2.2 but adopts a
conservative approach for developer and user safeness, like Debian
(but you may think Debian is also a confusing set of old tools).

AIDE means Ada Instant Developement Environement : it is useable after
a single copy under Windows platforms and has been designed equally
for professionals, students and newcomers.

It offers Emacs/Glide, GPS and a minimal Unix/bash shell (via
MinSys/MinGw) to provide basic Unix services for Windows users. 

AIDE can recompile, by a single command line, GtkAda full test program
testgtk (gtk 2.2) or complex GtkAda programs like GVD. 

It comes with a 80 pages manual, english translation is underway and
will be ready for the next -coming soon- release, which will include
lots of goodies, mainly around integrated user and maintenance
documentation generation with Texinfo, Adadoc and Dia.


2)

AIDE is only made up of multi-platform tool in order to propose to
Windows developers the closest possible environment that can be found
in free systems.  This will also allow to present these wonderful
tools in a soft and easy manner.

Therefore, the Windows developer will be able to jump seamlessly from
environment to another without feeling lost and also while maintaining
all its usual tools and all the previously written programs.

Regarding GWindows integration in AIDE, as suggested by Ludovic, there
is a problem : GWindows is a Windows only specific tool, but AIDEshall
only use multi-platform tools.

However, I'm aware GWindows is a very valuable tool, at first glance
easiest to use than GtkAda, and used by many fine people (like
gauthier de montmollin for its TexDvi graphic utility).


Best regards from France


(1) For experiments, and thanks to Jeffrey Creem help, I've done (in
winter 2002) an experimental AIDE (0.74) distribution with gcc 3.2 and
gtk 2.0. which comes with full english and frenchs docs to re-create
it from scratch. It was just for fun and self-education.

Stephane Riviere
Oleron Island - France
http://stephane.rochebrune.org
OpenPgp Key <5fd6a1e6> available on the web site above