Re: Is the Writing on the Wall for Ada?

[chris <spamoff.danx@ntlworld.com>]

Marin David Condic wrote:

> I've argued that point here in numerous other threads. Just because 
> something isn't in the ARM doesn't mean it isn't "Standard". Putting it 
> in the ARM enslaves it to a *TEN YEAR* revision cycle. You want to wait 
> ten years to see your pet feature added to the library?

I wasn't saying we put it in the ARM, far from it!  As you point out 
it's too long to wait between revisions.  The world changes much quicker 
than that.  10 year revisions are ok for something like a language 
standard.  I was simply asking who wants a std lib, and what they want 
of one.



> Can't help you there. At this time, nothing exists. You've got to start 
> from somewhere. I think *something* could get produced relatively 
> quickly if the will was there. Say less than a year to get a first 
> release? But a library by its nature is never "done" so you'd have to 
> accept that not everything you want is going to be there in a timespan 
> you like.

But it'd be a start!  Besides if some feature isn't there, you can 
implement it and propose it be added and if it is added everyone get's it!


> This is why I've expressed some sense of urgency in my various rants on 
> the subject. Every day you don't have a library is another day for 
> someone to say "I've got to commit to some tools today and Ada isn't in 
> the short list because it lacks what I need."

Exactly!


>> That's good for the new users, but what about me?  I'm stuck creating 
>> bindings to libs that I could use straight away in C/C++!  I'm stuck 
>> creating libraries and tools and not programming the main application!
>>
> 
> I've also said that bindings are not an answer. 

No they're not.  Having to install too many bindings and libraries to 
get work done is no good.


> Attractive from a "language" sense, but not from a "project" sense. "I 
> really like Ada better than C++, but with C++ I get 2/3 of my 
> development work done for me by virtue of existing libraries, etc., so 
> Ada is a non-starter..." I've made this observation more than once too.

That's the attitude that I've started to take.  When I need to get work 
done, the fact that Ada is my favourite language doesn't cut it.  There 
are other considerations, and they're becoming more important as time 
moves on (partly because technology is moving forward, and ada tool 
availability isn't keeping up).


Chris