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From: swhalen@netcom.com
Subject: Re: C/C++ programmer giving Ada95 a chance -- writing an emulator.
Date: 2000/04/02
Message-ID: <8c74ud$mhd$1@slb2.atl.mindspring.net>#1/1
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Newsgroups: comp.lang.ada
Date: 2000-04-02T00:00:00+00:00
List-Id: <comp.lang.ada>

Geoff Bull <gbull@acenet.com.au> wrote:

: According to the OED, a standard is a "weight or measure
: to which others conform or by which the accuracy or quality
: of others is judged".

: By this definition Sun's Java Language Specification *is* a standard. 
: Most Java implementors are making big efforts to conform to
: Sun's standard, MS being the notable exception.

: I am not saying that privately controlled standards are a good thing.
: I was just objecting to the claim "there is no standard for Java"
: because, unless you twist the meaning of the word standard,
: it is false.

First, those of us here in the colonies do NOT swear allegiance to
the Oxford English Dictionary<g>.  You'll recall we had a bit of a
fracas a while back so we could choose our own dictionaries, form of
government, etc.

I think the problem many of us have with "proprietary standards" is
that unlike a measure of weight or such, the "standard" can be
changed at the whim of the proprietor, and is thus not a "stable"
standard.

I submit that a unit of weight that weighs as much as _I_ want it
to, is just as "non-standard" as a "Sun Java Standard".  The
measures I think the OED refers to, seldom if ever change, unlike
"proprietary standards" like Java or the "Windows API".

I think an ISO standard like Ada is far nearer to the OED meaning
because it changes slowly if at all, and in full public view (like
when they changed the basis for the length of a meter, or when the
working groups work on a "fix" or proposed revision to the Ada
standard).

Sun and Microsoft and other proprietors change their "standards"
much more frequently, and with no mandatory concern for the impact
on others who have adhered to the standard as it existed before
(their proprietary interests come before the common good whenever
the two come into conflict).

Steve

-- 
{===--------------------------------------------------------------===}
                Steve Whalen     swhalen@netcom.com
{===--------------------------------------------------------------===}