Re: Untyped Ada?

[DScott <Merlin43PhD@Netscape.net>]

Graham wrote:
...
> I haven't been using Ada for all that long, but I have been thinking
> that a kinder, gentler version would be nice in some circumstances.
> Not necessarily *no* type-checking, but the ability to mix, say,
> integers, fixed-point types and floats in an equation without
> cluttering up the code with conversions.
> 
> I dare say that you wouldn't want to program a missile in such a loose
> way, but for the kinds of things I'm involved in - financial apps and
> simulations - the level of strictness of Ada would be a turn-off for
> many developers. And, from what I can see, the main problem with Ada
> is its lack of take-up outside its core areas of avionics and real-
> time systems.
> 
> Sorting out string handling out would be nice, too.
> 
> Graham
As one half of a team that has just started (2 months) using Ada in a business environment 
(Call Center/ Rent-A-Secretary), I have invented a few new curse words, but I wouldn't 
give it up for anything.
The strong typing is one of its best features. It makes us think very carefully about our 
data and how stuff gets passed around. The discipline is quite refreshing after all the 
slovenly code I have seen in the last 20 years.

-- 
Fui et vidi experiri.
=DSM=
A.S., B.A., M.A., M.S., Ph.D.
Ni Dan
Multi-lingual Programmer since 1960
Distinguished Rifleman
and a whole barrow-load of other stuff :)