Re: GNAT 3.03 for OS/2

[John Howard <jhoward@solar.sky.net>]

On 25 Mar 1996, Dale Pontius wrote:
> In article <dewar.827529052@schonberg>, dewar@cs.nyu.edu (Robert Dewar) 
> writes:
> > No, it is just not done yet. We have very few customers for the OS/2
> > version, so it is not high priority. Indeed it would be even lower in
>
> How do you measure 'very few customers'? Is it in downloads of the
> compiler? hits on some web site? or Paying Customers?
>
> How does one become a Paying Customer of ACT? As I've said before, I'm
> in a bit of a Catch-22 regarding buying a compiler, but it may be
> worth a try. Perhaps after I get my current project running better I
> can pursuade someone.
>
> The OS/2 world is rather language-poor. Outside of C/C++, there are a
> few commercial Pascal extensions, a few Modula-2's, a Modula-3, maybe
> Eiffel soon, etc. As for workstation (AIX) <--> OS/2 portability,
> there are only a few options, and Ada may well be the best of them.
>
> Thanks,
> Dale Pontius
> (NOT speaking for IBM)

I have a few complaints about the tough situation with OS/2 and GNAT.  My 
impression is that ACT is foot-dragging in order for IBM to be persuaded 
to fund development of GNAT for OS/2 and AIX.  I don't blame ACT for 
giving priority to paying customers.  But I do blame them for not 
effectively promoting the use of GNAT to the bulk of professional OS/2 
developers.

In June of '95, I attempted to have GNAT distributed on the CD-ROM's with 
the IBM Developer Connection for OS/2.  I contacted the people at IBM and 
hooked them up with Robert Dewar who officially took over from there.  
IBM was very interested in getting GNAT distributed on their CD's and 
even contacted me several more times until September.  IBM wants to see 
an OS/2 environment that can be used for either PowerPC or Intel 
machines.  I suggested GNAT Ada 95 to them.

There was one catch: the owner of the copyrights to GNAT had to sign a 
standard release form.  At that time, the copyrights were held by several 
University entities.

Now how tough is it for ACT to sign the IBM forms and send a recent copy 
of GNAT for OS/2 to the Developer Connection staff?  In my opinion, 
Robert Dewar is being too picky by holding-off on the OS/2 releases.  The 
subscribers to IBM DEVCON are exactly the people to reach in order to 
promote Ada 95 for OS/2 and AIX.  If ACT really wanted OS/2 and AIX 
customers other than IBM, then ACT would've moved by now to access the 
subscribers of DEVCON.

I'm a non-paying customer of ACT and I must admit I'm unable to 
effectively do anything more except complain in order to get GNAT into 
the hands of OS/2 developers.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
-- John Howard <jhoward@sky.net>               -- Team Ada  Team OS/2 --
------------------------------------------------------------------------