Re: question regarding number of files

[johnherro@aol.com (John Herro)]

mantri@ponder.csci.unt.edu (Ramesh S. Mantri)
mentions that after compiling an Ada program and
deleting the source and executable files, there's
still a "residue" of files left in his directory.

     The "residue" of files is supposed to be there, but you can delete
them if you know that you won't need that program again.
     A wonderful feature of Ada is that your program library remembers
what you've compiled.  For example, let's suppose you write a "Hello,
world" program called procedure Hello, compile it, link it as a main
program, and run it.  Then you delete the source and executable.  Your Ada
library still remembers what you've compiled.  You can write another
program that calls procedure Hello, compile, link, and run it just fine,
even though you've deleted the source and executable for Hello!
Your new program need only begin "with Hello;".
     If you know you'll never want to call Hello from another program, you
can delete its "residue" of files.
     Other languages, like Fortran, have libraries, but they're fixed and
don't remember what we've compiled.  The Ada system has great advantages,
too numerous to mention here.  These advantages help you develop programs
consistently.
     For example, in many languages you can make the mistake of calling a
subprogram with the wrong number or types of parameters.  You can't do
this in Ada, even if you compile the subprogram today and the calling
program a month later!
     For more information about the Ada library and its advantages,
download the Ada Tutor program at the Web or FTP site below my signature.
- John Herro
Software Innovations Technology
http://members.aol.com/AdaTutor
ftp://members.aol.com/AdaTutor