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 autolearn=no autolearn_force=no version=3.4.4 X-Google-Language: ENGLISH,ASCII-7-bit X-Google-Thread: 1143c4,7d107e452bdd8496 X-Google-Attributes: gid1143c4,public X-Google-Thread: 103376,1db77fbb2768946e X-Google-Attributes: gid103376,public X-Google-Thread: 115aec,7d107e452bdd8496 X-Google-Attributes: gid115aec,public X-Google-ArrivalTime: 2001-10-03 09:45:10 PST Path: archiver1.google.com!news1.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: linux.dev.kernel,comp.realtime,comp.lang.ada Subject: Re: Is Linux right for Embedded? Date: Wed, 3 Oct 2001 12:32:29 -0400 Organization: Posted on a server owned by Pace Micro Technology plc Message-ID: <9pfeiu$cfr$1@nh.pace.co.uk> References: <3BB69F21.B5AA7451@intercom.com> <9pcvbn$r52$1@xmission.xmission.com> <9pd4s402bga@drn.newsguy.com> <9pfcps$p0l$1@xmission.xmission.com> NNTP-Posting-Host: dhcp-200-133.miami.pace.co.uk X-Trace: nh.pace.co.uk 1002126750 12795 136.170.200.133 (3 Oct 2001 16:32:30 GMT) X-Complaints-To: newsmaster@news.cam.pace.co.uk NNTP-Posting-Date: 3 Oct 2001 16:32:30 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 linux.dev.kernel:4458 comp.realtime:3948 comp.lang.ada:13680 Date: 2001-10-03T16:32:30+00:00 List-Id: I don't think anyone will contend that there is never a time when Ada might be less productive or a less attractive choice than C - it depends on the project and the conditions surrounding it. (For example, some small SBC's only have C available for them.) If you have a bunch of C "coders" who don't understand principles of software engineering and/or are unwilling/unable to do a good job of constructing software, you may end up in the situation you describe. Chances are, you'll end up in trouble for hiring "coders" instead of "software engineers" anyway. As for emulators, debuggers, etc., consider that all of this stuff is constantly changing with hardware and development tools anyway and has little or nothing to do with the language of implementation. (BTW: The Gnat Ada compiler has the gdb debugger with it, so its basically the same toolset you'll see with gcc - a very popular C compiler that is used for a lot of realtime/embedded work.) I suppose if you want to go looking for reasons why Ada is going to cost you a bundle, you'll be able to imagine lots of things that might never really be a problem. If you want to look for the best tool for the job at hand and are willing to keep an open mind, you might find reasons why a new language might be advantageous. People change languages for different projects all the time - why is it A Good Thing(tm) if the language is Java (or insert the Language Du Jour here) but A Bad Thing(tm) if the language is Ada? BTW: Just for future reference, its "Ada" (named after Agusta Ada Byron) not "ADA" (as in Americans with Disabilities Act, et alia.) As for hiring "coders" - my general rule is this: Hire smart people who understand software development and are capable of learning new things. Give them the right tools for the job and the right training to use those tools. Keep them happy and keep them around. (Turnover is expensive!) You'll end up with better products built more efficiently that way. If your job ads read "I need Microsoft Visual C++/IBM-PC/Windows95 programmers..." what will you do with them if Linux becomes the hot craze? Or if the architecture changes to Sun/Unix? Or (God Forbid!) some *other* language becomes the hot item this week? Makes more sense to me to find adaptable engineers, 'cause the world of computers is *always* changing. 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/ "bgeer" wrote in message news:9pfcps$p0l$1@xmission.xmission.com... > > Time to learning basic ADA isn't the issue. > > Dump several 10s of thousands of lines of code in hundreds of source > source files, all poorly documented of course since ADA is > self-documenting, on any but the best memorizers & you end up with > long delays in productivity. > > Add to that time to figure out emulators & debuggers for which manuals > can't be found, long since carted off by a former project member. > > Now tell me finding good, quick-to-produce ADA coders, is easier than > finding good C coders. >