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=-0.4 required=5.0 tests=AC_FROM_MANY_DOTS,BAYES_00, DIET_1 autolearn=no autolearn_force=no version=3.4.4 X-Google-Language: ENGLISH,ASCII-7-bit X-Google-Thread: 103376,c62a5e526aafd9d4 X-Google-Attributes: gid103376,public X-Google-ArrivalTime: 2001-09-24 12:05:08 PST Path: archiver1.google.com!news2.google.com!newsfeed.google.com!newsfeed.stanford.edu!newsfeeds.belnet.be!news.belnet.be!psinet-eu-nl!psiuk-p4!uknet!psiuk-n!news.pace.co.uk!nh.pace.co.uk!not-for-mail From: "Marin David Condic" Newsgroups: comp.lang.ada Subject: Re: The Hobby Lobby was Windows CE? Date: Mon, 24 Sep 2001 14:55:11 -0400 Organization: Posted on a server owned by Pace Micro Technology plc Message-ID: <9onvig$f6n$1@nh.pace.co.uk> References: <9onhgu$9h9$1@nh.pace.co.uk> <3BAF77E6.9BDE9102@adaworks.com> NNTP-Posting-Host: dhcp-200-133.miami.pace.co.uk X-Trace: nh.pace.co.uk 1001357712 15575 136.170.200.133 (24 Sep 2001 18:55:12 GMT) X-Complaints-To: newsmaster@news.cam.pace.co.uk NNTP-Posting-Date: 24 Sep 2001 18:55:12 GMT X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Newsreader: Microsoft Outlook Express 5.50.4522.1200 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V5.50.4522.1200 Xref: archiver1.google.com comp.lang.ada:13297 Date: 2001-09-24T18:55:12+00:00 List-Id: I would be the last one to suggest that ACT/Dr. Dewar/Anyone Else go forth and develop a product without exercising the due diligence required of one who is operating a business for profit. Even a large giant like Microsoft has a fiduciary responsibility to its stockholders and should not fritter away its resources on speculation that something might be a good idea and make no effort to prove out the concept. Resources are always limited and should be invested wisely in areas that have the maximum potential for good returns. I wouldn't condemn a businessman for saying "I won't go build it just because a few posts showed up in a newsgroup." One needs a bit more evidence than that to be convinced it is a good idea. Obviously, if a business is getting lots of serious inquiries about a product for a particular segment they have good reason to believe that they will be able to find customers for it. OTOH, customers often don't know what they need until they see it or they may have a need they don't express to one particular company - especially if they are only potential customers rather than regular customers. That's the point at which floating a few trial baloons or otherwise conducting some market studies & analysis can help out a lot. Sometimes there is industry or government research that sheds light on a market & suggests where to introduce new products. Sometimes you have to do your own surveys & research. In any event, you need to look before you leap - something commonly missing in new business startups or new product developments. "Know Thy Customer" is a good rule to have. As for Windows CE? I have no clue as to how that market might react to an Ada compiler. I could rectally extract an opinion - but it would be worth every nickel you paid for it. Better answers would be had not by asking around in this newsgroup but by identifying (non-Ada) users of Windows CE & asking them how interested they'd be in buying an Ada compiler. Microsoft itself might be a useful resource from which to inquire. They probably have a good idea what their customers want or could find out what they want and they are smart enough to know they can't build everything for them themselves. MDC -- Marin David Condic Senior Software Engineer Pace Micro Technology Americas www.pacemicro.com Enabling the digital revolution e-Mail: marin.condic@pacemicro.com Web: http://www.mcondic.com/ "Richard Riehle" wrote in message news:3BAF77E6.9BDE9102@adaworks.com... > > Several people have commented on the virtue of satisfying > those who program as "hobbyists" versus those who are > working as bona fide professionals doing "real projects." > This raises some interesting perspectives on how the software > industry develops, evolves, becomes, and achieves. >