Re: Ada The Best Language?

[codesavvy@aol.com (codesavvy)]

Actually I responded in other posts in this thread that Ada is an
excellent language and it actually have more advantages than something
like C++.  I am willing to concede at this point that Ada 95 does have
significant advantages over C++.  However, I think it's fair to say
that C++ is more widely accepted and for Ada to become more widely
accepted companies will have to drop C++ and use Ada at some point. 
In order for this to happen upper management will have to be convinced
that they can be significantly more productive (how ever they measure
productivity) using Ada instead of C++.  They have to see a payback
for switching.  When I say there is plenty of crappy code written in
Ada I was pointing out that using Ada provides no guarantee that high
quality code will be produced.  I would actually like to see Ada more
widely used and I think it would be a shame if it was relegated to a
"niche" language.  However, I think this is exactly what's happening
because people that want to see Ada more widely adpopted aren't making
a very good case to the powers that be that can effect such changes. 
Wouldn't it be a shame if the "best" language was relegated to the
back burner?



"Mark Lundquist" <up.yerz@nospam.com> wrote in message news:<Ffh67.385473$p33.7760243@news1.sttls1.wa.home.com>...
> "codesavvy" <codesavvy@aol.com> wrote in message
> news:5be89e2f.0107170838.c71ad61@posting.google.com...
> > How come it is not more widely accepted?
> 
> That is a very good question.
> 
> The simple answer -- a truism really -- is that for most decision-makers,
> the perceived costs are not overcome by the perceived benefits.
> 
> So if we suppose for the sake of argument that the Ada advocates are right,
> then Ada is not more widely accepted because (a) the marginal cost of
> choosing Ada over the alternatives are supposed to be higher than the true
> marginal cost; and/or (b) the benefits of using Ada are not sufficiently
> understood or appreciated.
> 
> The way this actually plays out is pretty complex and gets into a lot of
> history.  But I think at the core, it's a "critical mass" phenomenon (of
> which "self-fulfilling prophecies" represent a case).  For a thorough
> treatment of thos concept, I highly recommend Thomas C. Schelling's book,
> "Micromotives and Macrobehavior", and especially chapter 3, "Thermostats,
> lemons, and other families of models".
> 
> If I perceive that few others are choosing Language X, then I will tend to
> believe that choosing Language X will place me at a disadvantage.  Everyone
> else is thinking the same way.  As a result, adoption and retention of
> Language X declines.  It takes a high level of perceived value to overcome
> this (as indeed it has done for those who are choosing Ada).
> 
> > The stuff I read here states
> > that it is because the rest of the world is stupid.
> 
> You might see that here sometimes.  Mostly it's hyperbole, and some posters
> here are more given to that than others.  You'll also see it in combination
> with anti-Microsuck^H^H^Hoft ranting (sorry! :-).
> 
> I think most participants in this ng would say that "the rest of the world"
> is simply wrong, not necessarily stupid.
> 
> Incidentally, the level of one-true-languagism expressed on this ng seems to
> have gone down over the past year or two.  Here you can find Ada fans who
> are also fans of Eiffel, OCAML, Haskell, Ruby, and other languages.
> 
> >  From what I can
> > tell there is plenty of crappy code written in Ada.
> 
> Definitely true.  There's plenty of crap written in every language, and will
> be in every language that has yet to be invented.  But this is hardly
> relevant, don't you think?  I've never seen anyone say that code written in
> any particular language can be considered good, solely by virtue of its
> having been written in that language.
> 
> >  I think many who
> > share the view that Ada is the best programming language offering
> > significant advantages over other programming language might want to
> > re-think their positions.
> 
> OK, I think Ada's the best, but I'm willing to re-think my position.  But
> since it's a thoughtfully held position in the first place, I will probably
> need some help -- are you willing to provide it?
> 
> -- mark