Re: computer language used to program Mars Lander

[Gary Scott <garylscott@sbcglobal.net>]

jacob navia wrote:
> Gautier wrote:
> 
>> Paul Hsieh:
>>
>>> The small memory footprint and VxWorks environment probably makes C a
>>> very attractive language for the NASA guys.  If they used Ada, they
>>> would be slower,
>>
>>
>> Oooh... This is a misconception that comes from the time of 
>> non-optimizing compilers for PC's - around 20 years ago. At that time 
>> a i++ was faster than a i:= i + 1, sure. But it was long long time 
>> ago. Never heard of GCC ?...
>> _________________________________________________________
>> Gautier's Ada programming -- http://sf.net/users/gdemont/
>>
>> NB: For a direct answer, e-mail address on the Web site!
> 
> 
> Do you have any data to prove that ADA is faster than C?

There should in general be no difference other than that there may be 
some constructs that are harder for the compiler writer to figure out 
how to optimize in one language versus the other.  Probably works both ways.

> Or that has a smaller memory footprint?
> 
> 
> 


-- 

Gary Scott
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