Re: Reasons NOT To Choose Ada

[jsa@alexandria (Jon S Anthony)]

In article <1996Dec4.190401.1@eisner> kilgallen@eisner.decus.org (Larry Kilgallen) writes:

> In article <dmiller-0412961436470001@ind-0010-27.iquest.net>, dmiller@cybo.com (Dana Miller) writes:
> > In article <57vknm$r3c@news.structured.net>, cts@alpinet.com (Craig
> > Spannring) wrote:
> 
> >> You might want to check out Object Ada from Thompson.  They have some
> >> sort of visual layout program in their professional edition.  I
> >> haven't tried it out since I'm being paid to do C++ and $595 is a bit
> >> steep for a toy to use at home.
> > 
> > MS VC++ is ~$600 and CodeWarior for the Mac is ~$400 
> 
> Unless it is very well hidden, Codewarrior does not include a visual
> layout program.  AppMaker from Bowers does an excellent job and will
> interoperate with CodeWarrior (Pascal or C*), but the total price is
> then up to the $600 level.  I don't consider that horrible, but it
> is not particularly lower than ObjectAda for Windows on Intel.

Another point worth mentioning in this context is that the $595 price
for ObjectAda is for the _professional_ version (even includes
ClearCase CMS for crying out loud).  The _personal_ version (which
doesn't look too toy like either) is $245.  As pointed out below, to
get a _professional_ level MSVC++ is over the $1000.00 mark (last I
looked) - and I _believe_ the compiler is the same piece of rubbish as
what you get for the $600.00.


> > The Professional or Enterprise versions of MSVB or MSVC++ are closer to
> > four figures than two.   Iwas just looking at the prices for MS software
> > all across the board.  WOW they are EXPENSIVE!!  The alsys^h^h^h^h^h
> > Thompson compiler is a good deal when you considder the cost of adding
> > bounds checker $??? and possibly several other checkers $??? needed to do
> > what Ada does out of the box.  Not a bad deal.  The other advantage of the
> > Thompson product is that the definition of Ada95 is not as likely to
> > change over the next year as C++ is (was) and force you to keep buying new
> > compilers from MS or Borland.
> 
> Yes, rather than torture programmers with frequent language changes
> the Ada community prefers to torture purchasing agents with frequent
> company and product name changes.  ObjectAda is now from a company
> called Aonix.  Formerly Thomson.  Former Alsys.

Yeah, really!  Criminey, I was just getting used to "Thomson"...

/Jon
-- 
Jon Anthony
Organon Motives, Inc.
Belmont, MA 02178
617.484.3383
jsa@organon.com