Re: Why is Ada NOT a good choice for a beginner to programming?

[Rod Haper <rhaper@houston.rr.com>]

W D Tate wrote:
> "David Wright" <davidw@uq.net.au> wrote in message news:<au0nld$b0$1@bunyip.cc.uq.edu.au>...
> 
>>Hello from DownUnder...
>>
>>I would appreciate some general advice from experienced Ada programmers,
>>particularly (but not only) those using it as a teaching vehicle for
>>Computer Science courses etc.
> 
> 
> I have a few suggestions for you - Ada and Python.
> Python is an object-oriented script language with easy on the eyes
> syntax, a ton of libraries out there and a very very friendly
> discussion groups.
> 
> If you programming for just the fun of it, then Python is hard to
> beat, but IF your working on something that helps pay the bills or
> keeps your business afloat then I would advise asking yourself this
> question.  How much money are you prepared to flush down the toilet on
> such activities as debugging or trying to decipher something conceived
> by a kid named Garth?
> 
> If that's appealing to you then by all means take the C/C++ route, the
> historical evidence points to a good probability that a state of
> entropy will have firmly set in by the 2nd or 3rd generation of your
> product.  However, if you want to make an honest attempt at avoiding
> that and using your time more productively then I would advise looking
> at Ada as one alternative.

I've been waiting to see if anyone was going to suggest the combination 
of Python and Ada.  I want to add my enthusiastic support for this 
combination.  For programming beginners, I don't think Python can be 
beat as an intial programming language.  [Long list of benefits and 
pluses omitted.]  An added plus is that Python is full-featured and 
powerfull enough that you won't outgrow it and have to leave it behind 
as your programming expertise grows.  Python is a great blend of 
simplicity, clarity and power that will serve you long and well.  By all 
means, David, take a look at Python.

Then, if you need/want to move on to a programming regime that requires 
industrial strength, robust, compiled programs, you can't beat Ada as 
your choice.  And you'll find that the programming foundations and 
habits that you build with Python will serve you well with Ada.  We may 
live in a C/C++ world awash with poorly designed and implemented code 
but I urge you to consider the less travelled Ada road as a way to avoid 
some of those headaches.

-- 
Rod

+----------------------------------+
|     There is a better way ...    |
|   LAP => Linux + Ada95 + Python  |
+----------------------------------+