From: Hugh Dunne <dunneh@lhd.logica.com>
Subject: Re: C is 'better' than Ada ... NOT!!
Date: 1996/07/08
Date: 1996-07-08T00:00:00+00:00 [thread overview]
Message-ID: <4rqtdk$nge@romeo.logica.co.uk> (raw)
In-Reply-To: 31e02c32.342948604@netline-fddi.jpl.nasa.gov
kdq@emoryi.jpl.nasa.gov (Kevin D. Quitt) wrote:
>On Fri, 5 Jul 1996 09:29:56 +0100, Peter Amey <pna@erlang.praxis.co.uk> wrote:
>>"The superior pilot uses his superior judgement to avoid situations that
>>would require his superior skill"
[I love that quote!]
>>
>>I use Ada precisely because it avoids the need constantly to demonstrate
>>my superior skill :-)
>
>I do the same in C. The problem is that Ada won't *let* you use your superior
>skill, i.e., nothing is gained by it. For someone who knows what they're
>doing, it's just as easy to write good, clean, safe code in C (or assembly, or
>*any* language) as it is in Ada.
There are always ways of getting around Ada restrictions - using
unchecked conversion, pragma interface etc. The point is that you can't
do it by accident - you have to take explicit steps to short-circuit
the safeguards, which hopefully will make you stop and think about
what you are doing.
Re the second point: IN THEORY it's possible to write highly virtuous
code in any language and crappy code in Ada (and I've seen plenty of
the latter.) In practice, any help which the compiler offers you to
avoid mistakes should be gratefully accepted! I get very impatient with
people who complain about the compiler taking away their freedom to be
creative etc. This is a prima donna attitude. If I'm sitting on a plane
controlled by a software fly-by-wire system, I want it to be solidly
engineered by competent developers who use all appropriate tools, not
"created" by software "wizards"!
--
--------------- http://www.vjf.com/PUBLIC/86/27186.html ---------------
Hugh Dunne/Logica UK Ltd/Stephenson House/75 Hampstead Rd/London NW1 2PL
The above are strictly my own personal opinions | dunneh@lhd.logica.com
and in no way reflect the opinions of Logica. | +44 171 446-1608
next prev parent reply other threads:[~1996-07-08 0:00 UTC|newest]
Thread overview: 252+ messages / expand[flat|nested] mbox.gz Atom feed top
1996-06-19 0:00 C is 'better' than Ada because Alan Brain
1996-06-20 0:00 ` Ron Thompson
1996-06-22 0:00 ` Nasser Abbasi
1996-06-22 0:00 ` David Morton
1996-06-22 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1996-06-23 0:00 ` The Deviant
1996-06-23 0:00 ` Michael Feldman
1996-06-23 0:00 ` John Winters
1996-06-23 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1996-06-24 0:00 ` token%/etc/HOSTNAME
1996-06-23 0:00 ` John Winters
1996-06-23 0:00 ` David Morton
1996-06-23 0:00 ` Lawrence Kirby
1996-06-27 0:00 ` ) OH NO "...begs the question..." Ralph Silverman
1996-06-28 0:00 ` Bill Wendling
1996-06-23 0:00 ` C is 'better' than Ada because John Winters
1996-06-23 0:00 ` David Morton
1996-06-30 0:00 ` Nasser Abbasi
1996-06-23 0:00 ` Nasser Abbasi
1996-06-23 0:00 ` Fergus Henderson
1996-06-23 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1996-06-28 0:00 ` Fergus Henderson
1996-06-29 0:00 ` Kevin D. Quitt
1996-06-29 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1996-06-30 0:00 ` Fergus Henderson
1996-07-01 0:00 ` Mike Roske
1996-07-01 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1996-07-02 0:00 ` Ken Garlington
1996-07-03 0:00 ` Kevin D. Quitt
1996-07-04 0:00 ` Ian Ward
1996-07-05 0:00 ` Peter Amey
1996-07-05 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1996-07-10 0:00 ` James A. Squire
1996-07-15 0:00 ` Oliver Kellogg
1996-07-16 0:00 ` Oliver Kellogg
1996-07-18 0:00 ` Fraser Wilson
1996-07-18 0:00 ` Fergus Henderson
1996-07-19 0:00 ` Keith Thompson
1996-07-17 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1996-07-11 0:00 ` James A. Squire
1996-07-16 0:00 ` Nasser Abbasi
1996-07-16 0:00 ` Mark A Biggar
1996-07-17 0:00 ` Laurent Guerby
1996-07-17 0:00 ` David Emery
1996-07-17 0:00 ` James A. Squire
1996-07-18 0:00 ` James A. Squire
1996-07-07 0:00 ` Kevin D. Quitt
1996-07-08 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1996-07-10 0:00 ` John F. Bode
1996-07-11 0:00 ` Mike Roske
1996-07-10 0:00 ` Peter Hermann
1996-07-15 0:00 ` Tim McGuire
1996-07-16 0:00 ` Kevin D. Quitt
1996-07-16 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1996-07-18 0:00 ` Ken Garlington
1996-07-19 0:00 ` Kevin D. Quitt
1996-07-19 0:00 ` Richard O'Rourke
1996-07-22 0:00 ` Kevin D. Quitt
1996-07-22 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1996-07-23 0:00 ` Theodore E. Dennison
1996-07-23 0:00 ` Kevin D. Quitt
1996-07-24 0:00 ` Theodore E. Dennison
1996-07-24 0:00 ` Kevin D. Quitt
1996-07-25 0:00 ` Alan Brain
1996-07-25 0:00 ` Steve Howard
1996-07-27 0:00 ` Bob Kitzberger
1996-07-26 0:00 ` Mike Roske
1996-07-25 0:00 ` Fergus Henderson
1996-07-25 0:00 ` Kevin D. Quitt
1996-07-26 0:00 ` Fergus Henderson
1996-07-26 0:00 ` kennedy1
1996-07-23 0:00 ` Tim Behrendsen
1996-07-24 0:00 ` Dirk Dickmanns
1996-07-24 0:00 ` JamesS1889
1996-07-24 0:00 ` Theodore E. Dennison
1996-07-27 0:00 ` Tim Behrendsen
1996-07-29 0:00 ` Dirk Dickmanns
1996-07-30 0:00 ` Tim Behrendsen
1996-07-31 0:00 ` whiting_ms@corning.com (Matt Whiting)
1996-07-31 0:00 ` Dirk Dickmanns
1996-07-31 0:00 ` Kevin D. Quitt
1996-08-01 0:00 ` Alan Brain
1996-08-02 0:00 ` Kevin D. Quitt
1996-08-05 0:00 ` Byron B. Kauffman
1996-08-15 0:00 ` Mike Roske
1996-08-15 0:00 ` David Shochat
1996-08-16 0:00 ` Ken Garlington
1996-08-16 0:00 ` John Herro
1996-08-16 0:00 ` John Herro
1996-08-16 0:00 ` Jon S Anthony
1996-08-05 0:00 ` Robb Nebbe
1996-08-02 0:00 ` Dirk Dickmanns
1996-07-29 0:00 ` Bob Kitzberger
1996-07-30 0:00 ` Tim Behrendsen
1996-07-30 0:00 ` Richard A. O'Keefe
1996-07-30 0:00 ` Tim Behrendsen
1996-07-30 0:00 ` Theodore E. Dennison
1996-07-29 0:00 ` Ada is 'better' than C because John Herro
1996-07-30 0:00 ` Brian Rogoff
1996-07-30 0:00 ` Adam Beneschan
1996-07-31 0:00 ` Franz Kruse
1996-08-04 0:00 ` Richard Riehle
1996-08-05 0:00 ` Sandy McPherson
1996-08-06 0:00 ` Ken Garlington
1996-08-06 0:00 ` GAFFNEY.BRIAN
1996-08-07 0:00 ` Ken Garlington
1996-08-08 0:00 ` Theodore E. Dennison
1996-08-08 0:00 ` Frank Lipski
1996-08-09 0:00 ` Sandy McPherson
1996-08-15 0:00 ` Mike Stark
1996-08-07 0:00 ` Bob Kitzberger
1996-08-08 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1996-08-08 0:00 ` Kevin D. Quitt
1996-07-30 0:00 ` C is 'better' than Ada because Theodore E. Dennison
1996-08-08 0:00 ` Ada is 'better' than C because William Clodius
1996-08-09 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1996-08-09 0:00 ` Kevin D. Quitt
1996-08-12 0:00 ` OBryan Anthony H
1996-08-12 0:00 ` Bob Kurtz
1996-08-12 0:00 ` Lawrence Kirby
1996-08-13 0:00 ` Tom Watson
1996-08-14 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1996-07-29 0:00 ` C is 'better' than Ada because system
1996-07-30 0:00 ` Tim Behrendsen
1996-07-25 0:00 ` Alan Brain
1996-07-18 0:00 ` Bob Gilbert
1996-07-19 0:00 ` Kevin D. Quitt
[not found] ` <4rvr2j$2gb0@info4.rus.uni-s <nhn30yhw6t.fsf@paralysys>
1996-07-18 0:00 ` Kevin D. Quitt
1996-07-18 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1996-07-26 0:00 ` Richard Riehle
1996-07-08 0:00 ` Hugh Dunne [this message]
1996-07-08 0:00 ` C is 'better' than Ada ... NOT!! Frank Manning
1996-07-08 0:00 ` Kevin D. Quitt
1996-07-12 0:00 ` C is 'better' than Ada because John F. Bode
1996-07-15 0:00 ` Sandy McPherson
1996-07-18 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1996-07-19 0:00 ` Theodore E. Dennison
1996-07-19 0:00 ` Theodore E. Dennison
1996-07-19 0:00 ` Ken Garlington
1996-07-20 0:00 ` Michael Feldman
1996-07-21 0:00 ` Alfonso Urdaneta
1996-07-21 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1996-07-22 0:00 ` Kevin D. Quitt
1996-07-22 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1996-07-26 0:00 ` Richard Riehle
[not found] ` <31f3c52e.238719470 <Pine.GSO.3.92.960726122347.25896E-100000@nunic.nu.edu>
1996-07-31 0:00 ` Darrin Smith
1996-07-31 0:00 ` Fergus Henderson
1996-08-01 0:00 ` Jerry van Dijk
1996-08-06 0:00 ` Kirk Bradley
1996-08-09 0:00 ` Richard Riehle
1996-08-10 0:00 ` Craig Franck
1996-08-16 0:00 ` Richard Riehle
1996-08-18 0:00 ` Craig Franck
[not found] ` <Pine.GSO.3.92.960816102000. <4v5pis$4h1@mtinsc01-mgt.ops.worldnet.att.net>
1996-08-18 0:00 ` David Weller
1996-08-15 0:00 ` Mike Stark
1996-08-02 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1996-08-11 0:00 ` Jon S Anthony
[not found] ` <31f3c52e.238719470 <4uj42h$j06@mtinsc01-mgt.ops.worldnet.att.net>
1996-08-11 0:00 ` Doug & Rose Miller
1996-08-11 0:00 ` Craig Franck
1996-08-11 0:00 ` Doug & Rose Miller
1996-08-12 0:00 ` Craig Franck
1996-08-16 0:00 ` nasser
[not found] ` <31f3c52e.238719470 <4v5pis$4h1@mtinsc01-mgt.ops.worldnet.att.net>
1996-08-18 0:00 ` Doug & Rose Miller
1996-08-20 0:00 ` Craig Franck
1996-07-23 0:00 ` Ken Garlington
1996-07-27 0:00 ` Tim Behrendsen
1996-07-27 0:00 ` Lawrence Kirby
1996-07-29 0:00 ` Ian Ward
1996-07-30 0:00 ` Bob Cousins
1996-07-30 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1996-09-05 0:00 ` Bob Cousins
1996-08-13 0:00 ` Jon S Anthony
1996-08-14 0:00 ` Craig Franck
1996-08-28 0:00 ` Van Snyder
1996-08-14 0:00 ` Jon S Anthony
1996-08-15 0:00 ` Craig Franck
1996-08-15 0:00 ` Joe Gwinn
1996-08-16 0:00 ` Don Nelson
1996-08-19 0:00 ` Joe Gwinn
1996-08-19 0:00 ` Ken Garlington
1996-08-28 0:00 ` Van Snyder
1996-08-30 0:00 ` Norman H. Cohen
1996-08-15 0:00 ` Stefan 'Stetson' Skoglund
1996-08-15 0:00 ` Jon S Anthony
1996-08-20 0:00 ` nasser
1996-08-15 0:00 ` David Weller
1996-08-15 0:00 ` William C Brennan
1996-07-08 0:00 ` Ian Ward
1996-07-18 0:00 ` Hamilton Link
1996-07-19 0:00 ` Kevin D. Quitt
1996-07-10 0:00 ` Stephen M O'Shaughnessy
1996-07-10 0:00 ` Peter Seebach
1996-07-18 0:00 ` Brian Rogoff
1996-07-19 0:00 ` James A. Squire
1996-07-29 0:00 ` William Clodius
1996-07-30 0:00 ` Richard A. O'Keefe
1996-07-30 0:00 ` Tim Behrendsen
1996-08-01 0:00 ` Byron B. Kauffman
1996-08-01 0:00 ` Ian Ward
1996-07-30 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1996-07-31 0:00 ` Tim Behrendsen
[not found] ` <9608020139.AA29105@pulsar.telesoft>
1996-08-02 0:00 ` Tim Behrendsen
1996-08-05 0:00 ` Kevin D. Quitt
1996-08-06 0:00 ` is Ada 'better' than C? (Was: Re: C is 'better' than Ada because...) Antoine Leca
1996-08-06 0:00 ` Kevin D. Quitt
1996-07-31 0:00 ` C is 'better' than Ada because Ralph Silverman
1996-07-30 0:00 ` William Clodius
1996-08-01 0:00 ` Tim Behrendsen
1996-07-30 0:00 ` Robert I. Eachus
1996-08-01 0:00 ` David Wheeler
1996-08-01 0:00 ` Olivier Devuns @pulsar
1996-08-11 0:00 ` Jon S Anthony
1996-08-12 0:00 ` Craig Franck
1996-08-12 0:00 ` James A. Squire
1996-08-12 0:00 ` Craig Franck
1996-08-12 0:00 ` John Howard
1996-08-13 0:00 ` Craig Franck
1996-08-13 0:00 ` Ken Garlington
1996-08-14 0:00 ` Craig Franck
1996-08-14 0:00 ` Stephen M O'Shaughnessy
1996-08-14 0:00 ` Stephen M O'Shaughnessy
[not found] ` <Pine.GS <gwinn-1908961215100001@smc19.ed.ray.com>
1996-08-19 0:00 ` Adam Beneschan
1996-08-11 0:00 ` Ada 95 is a FREE language (was: C is 'better' than Ada because...) Laurent Guerby
1996-08-13 0:00 ` C is 'better' than Ada because Jon S Anthony
1996-08-13 0:00 ` Jon S Anthony
1996-08-14 0:00 ` Norman H. Cohen
1996-08-19 0:00 ` Jon S Anthony
1996-08-20 0:00 ` Craig Franck
1996-08-20 0:00 ` Jon S Anthony
1996-08-21 0:00 ` Craig Franck
1996-08-27 0:00 ` Valentin Bonnard
1996-07-06 0:00 ` Walter B. Hollman Sr.
1996-07-05 0:00 ` Jon S Anthony
1996-07-08 0:00 ` Peter Hermann
1996-07-09 0:00 ` Dirk Dickmanns
1996-07-12 0:00 ` ntxbow
1996-07-15 0:00 ` Kevin D. Quitt
1996-07-15 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1996-07-16 0:00 ` Ian Ward
1996-07-17 0:00 ` Dale Stanbrough
1996-07-23 0:00 ` Jon S Anthony
1996-07-29 0:00 ` William Clodius
1996-07-31 0:00 ` Darin Johnson
1996-08-01 0:00 ` Tim Behrendsen
1996-08-01 0:00 ` Jon S Anthony
1996-08-01 0:00 ` Jon S Anthony
1996-08-05 0:00 ` Stefan 'Stetson' Skoglund
1996-08-16 0:00 ` Jon S Anthony
[not found] ` <874508446wnr@t-cubed.demon.co.uk>
1996-06-29 0:00 ` Jon S Anthony
1996-07-01 0:00 ` James A. Squire
1996-07-02 0:00 ` Darin Johnson
1996-07-03 0:00 ` If your only tool is a hammer, all your problems look like nails (was Re: C is 'better' than Ada because...) Bruce Clement
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