Question: Ada and databases, what do other use?

Question: Ada and databases, what do other use?

[nabbasi]

hi,

I'd like to learn from others who use Ada for Database access.

What tools/API's/packages are there for using Ada to access Databases such
as Oracle or Sybase, using SQL and ODBC? I was hoping maybe I can
find something for Ada similar to the solutions avaliable for Java
such as the "JDBC" API that comes with Java JDK, and thefree
ODBC drivers from Oracle for use with Java. 

Now, I am using the JDBC API (java.sql package) that comes with JDK 
and using the Oracle Java driver that one can download free 
from Oracle webpage. 

I would really like to use Ada instead of Java to write my
client application, (I just can;t stand java string manipulation
routines, and lack of control over parameter passing mechanism, etc..
but that is another story).
 
I can use the Ada pro-compiler that Oracle provides, to compile
Ada program with SQL in it, but not sure how to use GNAT with all of
this, (this is on Solaris) and also I prefer to use ODBC type connection 
to the database so that my client application is portable. Also, I want
my application to run without changes on NT and Unix systems.

I guess what I am asking is what are people  experience in using
Ada with databases? Is Ada used much in this field? Should I just
forget the idea of using Ada in the area? I've allready got my
Java application connection to oracle up using only few lines
of code thanks for Oracle documentations and the free driver they
provide and the sql package that comes with Java, I just think that
Ada (if the tools are there) will be a better langauge to use.

I wish Ada had all the support from the industry that Java has. I think
Ada is simply ignored by software providers, which makes it hard to use
it to do usefull things with it, even though the basic language itself is
great.

thanks,
Nasser

Re: Question: Ada and databases, what do other use?

[Jerry van Dijk]

nabbasi@earthlink.net wrote:

: What tools/API's/packages are there for using Ada to access Databases such
: as Oracle or Sybase, using SQL and ODBC?

If you check the PAL you will find several solutions, none of which
I personally liked.

If your system supports OBDC, why not use that ? At least on Win32
the binding is standard.

: I was hoping maybe I can
: find something for Ada similar to the solutions avaliable for Java
: such as the "JDBC" API that comes with Java JDK, and thefree
: ODBC drivers from Oracle for use with Java. 

I've used a Q&D interface to JDBC connecting to MSql on Linux, this
worked quite nicely. Perhaps we should do a Ada version of the
java.sql package. Does anyone know if this interface is copyrighted ?

You might try this yourself using one of the Java to Ada converters
floating around.

: I can use the Ada pro-compiler that Oracle provides, to compile
: Ada program with SQL in it, but not sure how to use GNAT with all of

Mmmm, only two years back I tried to use Pro-Ada, but it was horrible,
and the Oracle support people didn't have a clue. I hope this situation
has been improved. 

: I guess what I am asking is what are people  experience in using
: Ada with databases?

A lot of do-it-yourself work. However, once you have your packages,
you can get _real_ reuse.

: Is Ada used much in this field? 

Too little, of course. But it is used, as Oracle's Pro-Ada
shows. For Sybase, binding to SQLLib is rather easy.
ODBC isn't difficult either. The PAL offers several more
generic solutions.

: Should I just forget the idea of using Ada in the area?

No, it just takes a little more work to get all the components
all lined up, that's all.

: I wish Ada had all the support from the industry that Java has. I think
: Ada is simply ignored by software providers, which makes it hard to use
: it to do usefull things with it, even though the basic language itself is
: great.

IMHO:

Yes, this situation reminds me of 'Hands Rule'. Hand being a US judge who
formulated a simple rule to determine what the punishment for a crime
should be. He reasoned that a potentional criminal weigths the possible
benifits from a crime against the potential punishment and the percieved
change of getting caught. The operative word here is 'percieved'.
As long as manufacturers percieve that no-one is using Ada, they are not
going to support it. Users percieve that Ada is not being used since no-one
is supporting it. The question for many years has been (and actual again
with the dropping of the mandate and the disappearence of the AJPO) how
to solve this catch-22 situation. It used to be that the defense industry
provided enough benifit to outweight the percieved lack of other interest,
hence the heavy emphasis on embedded and real-time work. With this
benifit going, we will need need to work on the 'percieved' part again
to regain a healthy balance. So, let your (Ada) vendors know you need
Ada support.

(Ahh, sorry, sometimes my judicial mind gets the better of me, I'm
not accusing Ada vendors and users of being potentional criminals :-)

Jerry.

-- 
-- Jerry van Dijk  | email: jdijk@acm.org
-- Leiden, Holland | member Team-Ada
-- Ada & Win32: http://stad.dsl.nl/~jvandyk

Re: Question: Ada and databases, what do other use?

[falis]

Nasser,

If you're using appletmagic, you can generate a JDBC binding 
using java2ada.exe.

If you're using ObjectAda (for windows at least), you can use the 
ODBC bindings that come with the product.  I suspect they're 
also there on the UNIX versions of the product, but am not sure.

Not sure what the story is with GNAT, but I'm pretty sure Robert 
will see you message and give you some ideas.

- Ed Falis
Aonix