Re: GNAT GPL 2005 Edition is now available

[Georg Bauhaus <bauhaus@futureapps.de>]

Andreas Schwarz wrote:
 

> I wouldn't have any use for gnat-gpl, and for me Ada has not 
> /that/ many advantages that I would pay $$$ for it.

$$$ ist quite the usual price for commercial use of compilers
+ tools in (really) small business, I think, whatever the language.
GCC etc. being an exceptionally inexpensive option only when you
don't need timely support. (And the GMGPL is still in the latest
sources in GCC.)

The price for compilers, libraries, and tools also doesn't seem
to depend on whether they are delivered with sources or not.

By small business I'm referring to normal-people-sums of money,
a small number of developers, starting at 1, and perhaps fairly
limited project duration. That is, neither Airbus  components,
nor subway controls, nor banking systems, nor mediaphone broadcasting,
nor car electronics, nor assembly line robotics.

GNAT Pro users have indicated a cost of $$$$ or more, not just
$$$. I think that's at least the same price range as Aonix,
Greenhills, or IBM. (insert standard disclaimer)

I'm not aware of Ada toolsets, other than two for Windows
(RR Software, Aonix), that cost < $$$$; does anyone know of any
other? For GNU/Linux?

I think that the prices are not different from what you pay for compilers
and tools for other languges. Last time I have looked, commercial Eiffel
tools started at $$$, Lisp tools at 1$$$, full(!) C++ tools at 1$$$,
Fortran at $$$, and so on.
There are some offerings of toolsets in the range $$-$$$,
but most of them can only be used for "console applications",
unless you build a host of tools, libraries and OS bindings yourself,
or get them elsewhere, with or without sources.

 Digging the archives will probably reveal comments made by/about
ACT, indicating that supporting less than 3 or 5 "seats" per
contract isn't the preferred basis for a support contract. (insert
standard disclaimer) But I'm only speculating here, things
might even change, since obviously free riding isn't possible any
longer by using the GNAT GPL edition, unless someone pays you for
producing software that is GPLed.

In fact, someone is paying ACT for producing GPLed software.
Part of the GNAT library is used by the competition, that's good
for everyone.

Perhaps we can dream of a GNAT Std Edition, on a par with
what you get from Borland, Microsoft, or Intel, with limited support,
but with GMGPL?