Feasibility of using Ada in new development

[blaw@mkisserve.com (Robert Law)]

I would like to start by saying my message is not an attempt to start
a flame war or anything like that.

I've been programming for years using everything from COBOL, RPG, C,
Java, PHP, etc.  I've written a number of business applications,
usually accounting ones.  (That's the advantage of having more than
twenty years of experience.)  I'm at the point in my life where I want
to pursue a dream I've had for years of having my own software
development company, basically a VAR or ISV.

I want to use a language that meets the following criteria:

1. It must be reliable.
2. It must be supported.
3. It must be usuable to develop applications in a graphical
environment.  Basically Motif, GTK, or KDE.
4. It must be usuable to develop programs used via a browser. 
5. It must be able to interface with relational databases either
through a standard interface or ODBC.
6. It would be nice if it was somewhat object oriented.  I'm not an
object oriented purist, but it does have some nice features.  I
especially like its automatic garbage collection of no lonter used
variable.

I don't care much whether or not there are millions of programmers
that know how to use it.  Any programmer worth their salt would be
willing to learn and become proficient in a new language.

I do want it to be a language that is efficient yet doesn't give you a
rope with a noose or a loaded, cocked, gun when you use it.

You can see that I'm leary of C and C++.  I have used them, and
continue to use them, but I'm not at all sure that I want to use them
to develop business applicatons.  I'm tired of reading about buffer
overflows.

I have played around somewhat with Ada but by no means am I an expert.
 I'm concerned that Ada may be starting to fade into obscurity.  If I
get my company going (I know its a BIG if), I want to use the language
for years and not chase after every silver bullet that comes along.

I'm interested in your comments and ideas, especially about Ada being
able to meet my requirements.

Thanks,
Robert Law