Re: GNAT GPL 2005 Edition is now available

["Randy Brukardt" <randy@rrsoftware.com>]

"Martin Dowie" <martin.dowie@baesystems.com> wrote in message
news:43313bf2$1_1@glkas0286.greenlnk.net...
> Niklas Holsti wrote:
> >  From a recent press release: "ObjectAda for Linux is available
> > immediately for Red Hat Enterprise Version 4 and Fedora Core
> > Version 4 and starts at $5,000".
>
> Shame they don't do a 'Pro' edition for $$$ as they do for Windows.
>
> I'm surprised there isn't a 'zero' support, dirty cheap version of these
> compilers - it's not a huge market, but they could just send out the
> same CD but filter on license key as to whether, if you ask for it, you
> are entitled to any support.

Well, speaking for RRS, there are a number of issues:
(1) There really isn't any such thing as a 'zero' support product. Problems
that people have using your products always reflect back on you, and people
rarely if ever prefix rants with "well, I got it for free, but...".
Moreover, if there is a security problem or the like, you'll pretty much
*have* to support it.
(2) Janus/Ada's packaging needs a complete overhaul; it was designed in the
mid 90's for floppy disk/printed manual distribution, and those days are
gone. Installation takes too much hand-holding right now. (And I personally
have been spending way too much time on Ada 200Y to address this; that will
end soon, of course.)
(3) The other issue is simply making enough money from the work to justify
the effort. Our experience (admittedly mostly from the 1980's) is that
compiler demand is rather inelastic. We have relatively low prices because
we believe in the small developer. But if we wanted to maximize our revenue,
pricing more like Aonix's would probably work better. Our current prices are
about as low as we can go, I think.

                         Randy Brukardt, R.R. Software, Inc.