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,FREEMAIL_FROM,XPRIO autolearn=ham autolearn_force=no version=3.4.4 X-Google-Language: ENGLISH,ASCII-7-bit X-Google-Thread: 103376,ce1e7170ab2bc91c,start X-Google-Attributes: gid103376,public X-Google-ArrivalTime: 2001-03-26 12:14:17 PST Path: supernews.google.com!sn-xit-03!supernews.com!cyclone2.usenetserver.com!news-out.usenetserver.com!newsfeed2.earthlink.net!newsfeed.earthlink.net!newsmaster1.prod.itd.earthlink.net!newsread2.prod.itd.earthlink.net.POSTED!not-for-mail From: "Phaedrus" Newsgroups: comp.lang.ada Subject: Why do so many companies use Apex? X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Newsreader: Microsoft Outlook Express 5.50.4133.2400 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V5.50.4133.2400 Message-ID: <_pNv6.15345$ue1.1278082@newsread2.prod.itd.earthlink.net> Date: Mon, 26 Mar 2001 20:13:46 GMT NNTP-Posting-Host: 209.178.103.28 X-Complaints-To: abuse@earthlink.net X-Trace: newsread2.prod.itd.earthlink.net 985637626 209.178.103.28 (Mon, 26 Mar 2001 12:13:46 PST) NNTP-Posting-Date: Mon, 26 Mar 2001 12:13:46 PST Organization: EarthLink Inc. -- http://www.EarthLink.net Xref: supernews.google.com comp.lang.ada:6073 Date: 2001-03-26T20:13:46+00:00 List-Id: I've been developing with Ada since the mid 80's, and I don't think that I've ever encountered a development environment as bad as the Apex Ada environment. 1. It's SLOW, any other compiler seems to fly by comparison. Remember using Vax Ada? Yeah, it's like that. It'll seem like geologic time if you're used to using Verdix. 2. Have you ever seen an environment that requires so much care and feeding? Most companies hire consultants to be the "Rational Toolsmith", which adds another large chunk of cash to the huge mound that this turkey costs. 3. It's EXPENSIVE. Not only do they charge big bucks for it, but then the license server doesn't release the licenses, so if you really want your group to be effective you'd better buy even MORE copies. 4. This thing has a terrible learning curve, but not to use the compiler, but just to set up a "tower". (Oh yeah, better get used to obscure references to words that they've appropriated for their own use. Seems kind of like Dianetics in that respect, and scares me pretty much the same way.) Better be able to shell out big bucks to send your folks to classes, and classes, and classes... 5. Ever try to use it to debug on the target? Yikes! If you've ever used a nice environment (I recommend the Green Hills compiler, it's small, friendly, and MUCH cheaper!) then you'll be astounded at how bad this thing is for debugging on the target. Assuming that you can actually connect to the target, that is. I did mention that it's slow, right? 6. It's a pig. Every third keypress seems to generate another swarm of windows, and pretty soon even the best workstation is performing like a 286. And you had better have a pretty big screen, those windows start getting buried pretty fast. Also, it takes quite a while to load, I usually start it, then go for coffee, and when I get back it's finally loaded. So, why do people keep buying this turkey? And don't try and give me that, "It's okay once you get used to it" argument, would you like a hot stove if you sat on it long enough? Granted, with Rational buying out most of the other Ada compiler companies (Can anybody say "antitrust"? Would somebody PLEASE say it to Rational? In an official way, if possible.) there aren't many vendors left to buy from, but even old Vax Ada kicks it's butt for development. Phaedrus