From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 3.4.4 (2020-01-24) on polar.synack.me X-Spam-Level: X-Spam-Status: No, score=0.1 required=5.0 tests=BAYES_05,INVALID_MSGID autolearn=no autolearn_force=no version=3.4.4 X-Google-Language: ENGLISH,ASCII-7-bit X-Google-Thread: 103376,2702c1ed8be62863 X-Google-Attributes: gid103376,public From: "Pat Rogers" Subject: Re: What ada 83 compiler is *best* Date: 1998/12/08 Message-ID: <74jnee$b9e$1@remarQ.com>#1/1 X-Deja-AN: 420109734 References: <3666F5A4.2CCF6592@maths.unine.ch> <366D68CD.AFC12CAF@XXX_nospam_stelnj.com> X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V4.72.3110.3 X-Complaints-To: newsabuse@remarQ.com X-Trace: 913137934 Y6JRGRJUHDE2AC640C usenet78.supernews.com Organization: Software Arts & Sciences Newsgroups: comp.lang.ada Date: 1998-12-08T00:00:00+00:00 List-Id: Roga Danar wrote in message <366D68CD.AFC12CAF@XXX_nospam_stelnj.com>... >Rick Thorne wrote: > >> I think one of the reasons Ada has failed so miserably in >> commercial US software development is precisely BECAUSE it is a standard >> the government has tried to bully on us. > > I could not agree more. This is the best point you have made. A language >choice should be made on real-world constraints. How much will I have to pay the >programmers? How many tools are there for a given platform or implementation? Is >the language by it's definition "safe" to use in critical systems? While I certainly agree that a reasoned choice should be made, based upon facts and not fad, I cannot agree that the government tried to "bully" their contractors. The policy was "use Ada or make a good argument for why not (i.e., make the case for a waiver)". That is certainly a reasonable approach for a customer to take -- their providers were using over 450 different languages and dialects. A similar situation would be if a given building were wired for 450 different power levels; a phone system using 450 different protocols; and on and on. Trying to get things under control was a good idea. That doesn't mean Ada was/is perfect, or that other languages could not be justified, but this idea of Big Brother trying to "bully" their contractors is just silliness.