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=-0.3 required=5.0 tests=BAYES_00, REPLYTO_WITHOUT_TO_CC autolearn=no autolearn_force=no version=3.4.4 X-Google-Thread: 103376,f40056d015b2ae33 X-Google-Attributes: gid103376,public,usenet X-Google-Language: ENGLISH,ASCII-7-bit Path: g2news1.google.com!news1.google.com!news2.google.com!newsfeed2.dallas1.level3.net!news.level3.com!bos-service1.raytheon.com!dfw-service2.ext.ray.com.POSTED!53ab2750!not-for-mail From: Jerry Petrey Reply-To: jdpetreyAPPENDIX@raytheon.com User-Agent: Thunderbird 2.0.0.5 (Windows/20070716) MIME-Version: 1.0 Newsgroups: comp.lang.ada Subject: Re: Suggestions for topics in an Ada course? References: <4737291e$0$27064$4d3efbfe@news.sover.net> <1194882790.326239.115730@22g2000hsm.googlegroups.com> In-Reply-To: Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Message-ID: <8Y2_i.1$IW2.0@dfw-service2.ext.ray.com> Date: Mon, 12 Nov 2007 13:45:24 -0700 NNTP-Posting-Host: 147.24.93.123 X-Complaints-To: news@ext.ray.com X-Trace: dfw-service2.ext.ray.com 1194900356 147.24.93.123 (Mon, 12 Nov 2007 20:45:56 UTC) NNTP-Posting-Date: Mon, 12 Nov 2007 20:45:56 UTC Organization: Raytheon Company Xref: g2news1.google.com comp.lang.ada:18327 Date: 2007-11-12T13:45:24-07:00 List-Id: adaworks@sbcglobal.net wrote: > "John McCormick" wrote in message > news:1194882790.326239.115730@22g2000hsm.googlegroups.com... >> I suggest that you avoid GUI or graphics programming. The Ada tools are >> simply not up to what they have seen in C++ and Java. > > My students really like being able to do some elementary graphics > with JEWL. I make it clear to them that JEWL is not an industrial > strength graphics library, but it is easy to use. In fact, it is, for > MS-Windows programming, easier to use than Java for the kind of > simple programs they do. > > I have been surprised by the programs my students have turned in > using JEWL. Consider, scientific calculators, encrypting text editors, > two-paddle pong programs, specialized navigation calculators, among > others. I have found JEWL to be much better for this kind of thing > than Ada.Text_IO. In fact, John English should be nominated some > time for a SigAda award for his JEWL contribution. > > Richard Riehle > > Richard, I agree completely about JEWL. I have been using it for years to make all kinds of PC based simulators for various hardware devices (such as GPS simulators, RF Link simulators, etc.). It is a great GUI tool for Ada. I only wish John had not dropped its support to move on to JAVA but it is still very useful. Look forward to your new Ada Distilled as well. Another well done product for Ada! I think teaching new Ada students a little graphics using something like JEWL is a great idea. I would also recommend doing some type of hardware control application (like sending messages over the serial port to some device to get a hardware action to take place). Years ago I taught some classes on Forth and I built a simple hardware traffic light simulator that the students could control over a PC serial port and it was very successful in allow them to try our various algorithms and see the tangible results. I'm sure John McCormick had the same success with his model train control. Jerry -- If replying, perform appendectomy on email address. --