Re: Meridian Ada Compiler Evaluation

[Brown_John@lanmail.ncsc.navy.mil]

Mark Hutchison [CSC] writes:
>I'm taking an Ada class at the local university.  They point you at 
>the Meridian Ada compiler for an IBM PC for $91.
>
>Is it worth it?
>
>Hutch

Several of us at work took an Ada class last spring using Meridian's new 
Ada compiler (v4.1).  The $150 version (that's what we paid) is a good 
choice for an Ada class if you plan to do your work on a PC and don't 
have access to (or can't afford) a "full-blown" environment.  The 
Meridian compiler is a full Ada implementation.  What you don't get for 
$150 is protected/extended memory support (for compilations, as well as  
for applications) and multi-user/network support.  You will be able to 
develop small programs for class assignments with no problem.  However, 
as your application becomes larger, you have to use a "batch" 
compilation mode which conserves memory and is a little slower.  The 
problem with this is that you can't use the make facility with the 
"batch" mode and have to re-compile manually.  Also, don't count on the 
debugger for too much help.  The documentation is good, and includes 
an LRM.  It also has an editor with the LRM on-line; however, I didn't 
use this feature.  As for the compiler itself, it supported 
everything we did in the class, including tasking, interrupt handlers 
for I/O and for DOS services, and generics.  All in all, it met our 
needs for the class and was a buy at $150.  (I don't know what the 
current price is.)

J. Brown
jbrown@lanmail.ncsc.navy.mil
-- Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are my own.
-- "Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain."