Re: Why Ada is not the Commercial Lang of Choice

[ica2ph@alpha1.csv.ica.uni-stuttgart.de (Peter Hermann)]

Nick Roberts (Nick.Roberts@dial.pipex.com) wrote:
> I'm sure many programmers would be irked by the more cumbersome methods
> imposed by Ada.

The opposite is true. You are displaying complete lack of experience.
This is not meant as an insult but should be read in a technical sense,
i.e. please don't worry, be happy.

The reason why I am posting this is simply my sharp disagreement with
the word "cumbersome". This can't be left unanswered.

Experience indicates that in particular those people with long-term
experience in very large software systems with those worn-out programming
languages like Fortran or C are deeply appreciating Ada's inherent
active support for bug free code. Being well introduced into the language,
there are no obstacles in the way to smoothly and easily write down
correct code. The only "cumbersome" thing is, that Ada forces to 
do the things right just from the beginning.
There is nearly no freedom left to initially implant unintentional bugs,
therefore Ada does not donate the great satisfaction produced by
the time-consuming process of bug searching. However,
many beginner-programmers need this narcotic and I recommend them
to program in C or Fortran: Yes, it is a great feeling when
a bug is found as a result of a day- or week-long search --
The feeling is "I did a great job", notwithstanding the genius 
(which I absolutely admit is there)
may not have been spent for the project's aim.

--
Peter Hermann  Tel:+49-711-685-3611 Fax:3758 ph@csv.ica.uni-stuttgart.de
Pfaffenwaldring 27, 70569 Stuttgart Uni Computeranwendungen
Team Ada: "C'mon people let the world begin" (Paul McCartney)