Re: Ada Operating System

[James Ross <rem.jr@rem.webross.com>]

On Sun, 17 Mar 2002 22:12:58 GMT, Darren New <dnew@san.rr.com> wrote:

>> The API's for
>> this would force a consistent method so there would no guessing where
>> *anything* was when it was time to back things up, upgrade,  wipe it
>> clean, etc... 
>
>Windows already has this, as has UNIX. 

I might be behind on the latest MS API's, but I am sure there is
nothing there that imposes the kind of thing I am suggesting.  For any
version of windows, including XP, and for any version of UNIX out
there, there is nothing in the OS to keep a user and/or program from
writing files anywhere and everywhere except for user permissions.  

For example: as an administrator I can just delete the GNAT\bin folder
without going through a proper uninstall.  Or I can move its entire
contents to WINDOWS\system32 folder if I want.  I can install EditPlus
inside either folder.  Sure, sounds like bizarre things to do -- but
the OS should not allow it regardless what reason I might have for
doing it.

These sort of restrictions would, in my opinion, go a long way to
making an OS more stable / secure / and easy to maintain. 

>The only way to make this work is to get it perfect the first
>time

Isn't this the "Ada Way"? Make sure your interfaces ( aka .ads's) are
near perfect to begin with... then design and redesign the rest down
the road.  As difficult, or impossible that might be, that would be
the goal!  

Of course were talking about a full fledged OS with a new native file
system (that I suggest be based on relational database model) and we
don't even have a kernel yet :)  Just pie in the sky thinking?!
JR