Writing a Windows/Mac app in Ada

Writing a Windows/Mac app in Ada

[Mike Silva]

I have a commercial application I have prototyped in C++ on Windows,
and I am very tempted to write it fresh (as per Fred Brooks) in Ada at
the same time I am extending it to Mac (OS X).  But I can only justify
this if the obstacles will be at a minium, whatever that might mean in
practice.  This will be a business-flavored app with no multimedia but
with typical screen controls and lots of printing (with associated
WYSIWYG on the screen).  So my questions are, what libraries/
frameworks would allow me to share the most code between Windows and
Mac versions, and be easiest to pick up.

My other question is, please tell me everything I don't already know
about such an undertaking. :-)  In all seriousness, any hints or tips
on writing a multi-platform application would be greatly appreciated.

Mike

Re: Writing a Windows/Mac app in Ada

[Vadim Godunko]

On May 10, 10:34 pm, Mike Silva <snarflem...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> I have a commercial application I have prototyped in C++ on Windows,
> and I am very tempted to write it fresh (as per Fred Brooks) in Ada at
> the same time I am extending it to Mac (OS X).  But I can only justify
> this if the obstacles will be at a minium, whatever that might mean in
> practice.  This will be a business-flavored app with no multimedia but
> with typical screen controls and lots of printing (with associated
> WYSIWYG on the screen).  So my questions are, what libraries/
> frameworks would allow me to share the most code between Windows and
> Mac versions, and be easiest to pick up.
>
You may use QtAda for GUI development. QtAda application doesn't needs
to have any platform specific code and works on Mac OS X, Windows and
most UNIX (including Linux). See:

http://www.qtada.com/

Re: Writing a Windows/Mac app in Ada

[Mike Silva]

On May 11, 2:09 am, Vadim Godunko <vgodu...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On May 10, 10:34 pm, Mike Silva <snarflem...@yahoo.com> wrote:> I have a commercial application I have prototyped in C++ on Windows,
> > and I am very tempted to write it fresh (as per Fred Brooks) in Ada at
> > the same time I am extending it to Mac (OS X).  But I can only justify
> > this if the obstacles will be at a minium, whatever that might mean in
> > practice.  This will be a business-flavored app with no multimedia but
> > with typical screen controls and lots of printing (with associated
> > WYSIWYG on the screen).  So my questions are, what libraries/
> > frameworks would allow me to share the most code between Windows and
> > Mac versions, and be easiest to pick up.
>
> You may use QtAda for GUI development. QtAda application doesn't needs
> to have any platform specific code and works on Mac OS X, Windows and
> most UNIX (including Linux). See:
>
> http://www.qtada.com/

Thanks, I'll definitely look into that.

Mike

Re: Writing a Windows/Mac app in Ada

[Michael Feldman]

Mike Silva wrote:
> I have a commercial application I have prototyped in C++ on Windows,
> and I am very tempted to write it fresh (as per Fred Brooks) in Ada at
> the same time I am extending it to Mac (OS X).  But I can only justify
> this if the obstacles will be at a minium, whatever that might mean in
> practice.  This will be a business-flavored app with no multimedia but
> with typical screen controls and lots of printing (with associated
> WYSIWYG on the screen).  So my questions are, what libraries/
> frameworks would allow me to share the most code between Windows and
> Mac versions, and be easiest to pick up.
> 
> My other question is, please tell me everything I don't already know
> about such an undertaking. :-)  In all seriousness, any hints or tips
> on writing a multi-platform application would be greatly appreciated.
> 
> Mike

You may or may not be aware of the listserv for people interested in 
GNAT under Mac OS X. That list has about 200 members; I figure at least 
some of them may also be developing for Windows. It wouldn't hurt to 
subscribe to that list and post a query there.

The URL to subscribe is

http://hermes.gwu.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=gnat-osx&A=1%22

Only subscribers may post. OTOH, non-subscribers may read the archives, at

http://hermes.gwu.edu/archives/gnat-osx.html

Mike Feldman (list owner)

Re: Writing a Windows/Mac app in Ada

[Gary Scott]

Mike Silva wrote:

> I have a commercial application I have prototyped in C++ on Windows,
> and I am very tempted to write it fresh (as per Fred Brooks) in Ada at
> the same time I am extending it to Mac (OS X).  But I can only justify
> this if the obstacles will be at a minium, whatever that might mean in
> practice.  This will be a business-flavored app with no multimedia but
> with typical screen controls and lots of printing (with associated
> WYSIWYG on the screen).  So my questions are, what libraries/
> frameworks would allow me to share the most code between Windows and
> Mac versions, and be easiest to pick up.
> 
> My other question is, please tell me everything I don't already know
> about such an undertaking. :-)  In all seriousness, any hints or tips
> on writing a multi-platform application would be greatly appreciated.
> 
> Mike
If you're starting fresh, may as well go with Fortran 95/2003 and one of 
the nice GUI builders like GINO or Winteracter.

-- 

Gary Scott
mailto:garylscott@sbcglobal dot net

Fortran Library:  http://www.fortranlib.com

Support the Original G95 Project:  http://www.g95.org
-OR-
Support the GNU GFortran Project:  http://gcc.gnu.org/fortran/index.html

If you want to do the impossible, don't hire an expert because he knows 
it can't be done.

-- Henry Ford

Re: Writing a Windows/Mac app in Ada

[Mike Silva]

On May 17, 2:04 pm, Michael Feldman <mfeld...@gwu.edu> wrote:
> Mike Silva wrote:
> > I have a commercial application I have prototyped in C++ on Windows,
> > and I am very tempted to write it fresh (as per Fred Brooks) in Ada at
> > the same time I am extending it to Mac (OS X).  But I can only justify
> > this if the obstacles will be at a minium, whatever that might mean in
> > practice.  This will be a business-flavored app with no multimedia but
> > with typical screen controls and lots of printing (with associated
> > WYSIWYG on the screen).  So my questions are, what libraries/
> > frameworks would allow me to share the most code between Windows and
> > Mac versions, and be easiest to pick up.
>
> > My other question is, please tell me everything I don't already know
> > about such an undertaking. :-)  In all seriousness, any hints or tips
> > on writing a multi-platform application would be greatly appreciated.
>
> > Mike
>
> You may or may not be aware of the listserv for people interested in
> GNAT under Mac OS X. That list has about 200 members; I figure at least
> some of them may also be developing for Windows. It wouldn't hurt to
> subscribe to that list and post a query there.
>
> The URL to subscribe is
>
> http://hermes.gwu.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=gnat-osx&A=1%22
>
> Only subscribers may post. OTOH, non-subscribers may read the archives, at
>
> http://hermes.gwu.edu/archives/gnat-osx.html
>
> Mike Feldman (list owner)- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -


Many thanks for that info.  It's amazing the things you learn when you
ask.

Mike