Re: ADA and Pascal SUCK, C,C++, and Java are the only languages you need!!

[kaz@helios.crest.nt.com (Kaz Kylheku)]

In article <Pine.SUN.3.96.971030093508.12308F-100000@flatland.dimensional.com>,
Steve Ropa  <theropas@dimensional.com> wrote:
>As far as daring to use C or C++ for mission critical systems, I would
>point out that the majority of the telecommunications systems in the world
>are running on top of Unix, which as we all know is written in C.  I
>myself(along with a half dozen other team members) have written several
>long distance Network Management systems in C++.  My team is about to
>start on a Satellite communications system in C++.  Oddly, it is replacing
>a system written in Ada.  This is not to put down Ada, as I feel every
>language has its place.  Just don't rule out the stability and reliability
>of C or C++.

A failure in a network management system doesn't actually amount to a real
catastrophy. It just means that you are perhaps not getting timely visibility
of some operational measurements or alarms, or an interruption in your ability
to control network elements. Only if such a condition is prolonged can it lead
to a failure to diagnose and possibly correct some fault in the network, such
as congestion due to to out of service units.

Telecommunication management software is large and complex, but not safety
critical, and quasi-real-time at best. Shut-down software for a nuclear reactor
may be less complex, but requires much more verification.
-- 
"In My Egotistical Opinion, most people's C programs should be
indented six feet downward and covered with dirt."
	-- Blair P. Houghton