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=-1.9 required=5.0 tests=BAYES_00 autolearn=ham autolearn_force=no version=3.4.4 X-Google-Thread: 103376,d17f9c8d910b90f6 X-Google-Attributes: gid103376,public X-Google-Language: ENGLISH,ASCII-7-bit Path: g2news1.google.com!news1.google.com!news.glorb.com!cyclone1.gnilink.net!spamkiller2.gnilink.net!gnilink.net!trndny02.POSTED!da342007!not-for-mail From: "stephane richard" Newsgroups: comp.lang.ada References: Subject: Re: Microsoft & Ada X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Newsreader: Microsoft Outlook Express 6.00.2900.2180 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.2180 X-RFC2646: Format=Flowed; Original Message-ID: Date: Sat, 11 Sep 2004 12:02:52 GMT NNTP-Posting-Host: 129.44.73.165 X-Complaints-To: abuse@verizon.net X-Trace: trndny02 1094904172 129.44.73.165 (Sat, 11 Sep 2004 08:02:52 EDT) NNTP-Posting-Date: Sat, 11 Sep 2004 08:02:52 EDT Xref: g2news1.google.com comp.lang.ada:3586 Date: 2004-09-11T12:02:52+00:00 List-Id: See me comments distributed in your message. Preceded by a *** "Andrew Carroll" wrote in message news:mailman.10.1094898755.390.comp.lang.ada@ada-france.org... > Okay, let me ask it again. > > Is the Ada language licensed or patented? By language I mean the > grammar that the compiler uses. I think it's called a BNF grammar. > *** No, Ada, like any other language isn't patented per se, anyone that wants to write a compiler for any language probably has the right to do so. And you're right it is called a BNF (For Backus Naure Formal) language description. > Also, if you support the idea of Microsoft getting involved with Ada, > why? *** Well for the sake of added visibility of Ada itself to a definitaly widespread user base of microsoft visual Studio developers all over the world, .net and others. That would be one of the benefits. Think of it this way. If you say, in a crowded room, that you program in Ada, it can have a certain level of influence perhaps. What if Microsoft said the very same phrase in that same crowded room. Do you think you, or microsoft would have the bigger influence? > What is at risk for you if Microsoft did get involved? *** Loss of standards, like what they did to C++, Like Borland did to C++ too...they didn't totally destroy C++ but in most cases, code written for Visual C++ tend to not compile as is on other C++ compilers. > Are there benefits related to Microsoft's involvement that reduce your > current risks? *** It's not quite a question of risk, at least not in my mind. It's more a question of visibility and incluence so to speak. What if you went to the microsoft website and it recommended Ada and/or recommended Ad related website and strategies and so on and so forth. *** For the newcomer, they would wonder what Ada is and why it's being pushed that much by microsoft. *** For the veteran, well some might think: .oO( Wow, Microsoft finally understood ) or something like that ;-). Seriously though, even the veterans will agree that today, want to or not, still and even with the latest court crazes that went on with microsoft. Microsoft is a big influencial box, what it says pretty much goes. so if Ada is mentionned on the microsoft website for example, it's worth it's weight in gold. Same thing if Ada is spoken in seminars or other events organized by microsoft. > If so, what are they? *** see above. > Why do you feel that Microsoft's involvement with Ada implies positive > results only? *** Positive results as far as Ada promotion goes. see above but like I said, if microsoft says so, it IS so. Or at least some people could start thinking differently because Microsoft started thinking differently about Ada. In a way it's sad, but it is true. :-) *** As far as the Ada language goes. well Unless Microsoft decides to buy the ISO organization that handles the Ada standard, I don't think they can destroy Ada as we know it. however, in libraries that they might create to make Ada more usable for windows (if they can ;-) ) then standards might be broken as a sacrifice to making their Ada Package (I wont say Visual Ada, but it does keep popping in my head) more usable under Windows (of course) :-). > > *** Mind you, even though I'm not a big microsoft fanatic, I'm not ignorant to the good that companies like microsoft can do if they decide to backup or boost a product, whichever it might be :-). > Andrew Carroll > Carroll-Tech > 720-273-6814 > andrew@carroll-tech.net > *** And that was my 2 cents. sorta ;-).