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=-1.3 required=5.0 tests=BAYES_00,INVALID_MSGID autolearn=no autolearn_force=no version=3.4.4 X-Google-Language: ENGLISH,ASCII-7-bit X-Google-Thread: 103376,751584f55705ddb7 X-Google-Attributes: gid103376,public From: adaworks@netcom.com (AdaWorks) Subject: Re: Ada is almost useless in embedded systems Date: 1996/02/19 Message-ID: #1/1 X-Deja-AN: 140160125 sender: adaworks@netcom12.netcom.com references: <823906039.22113@assen.demon.co.uk> organization: NETCOM On-line Communication Services (408 261-4700 guest) newsgroups: comp.lang.ada Date: 1996-02-19T00:00:00+00:00 List-Id: John McCabe (john@assen.demon.co.uk) wrote: : I believe that Ada is badly designed with respect to interfacing to : hardware and because of this should not be recommended for use in : embedded systems. There have been truly abominable embedded systems project deployed written in Ada. One could say the same of C, assembler and Forth. There are truly excellent embedded systems deployed written in Ada. This is also true of C, assembler, and Forth. The question, "Can Ada be used for the construction of well-performing embedded systems," is no longer a valid question. There are enough operational systems in place to answer, "Yes." We have no need to prove, through argument, whether Ada is appropriate for embedded systems software. The Ada track-record speaks for itself. You have the burden of proof. Since so many embedded systems are doing so well programmed in Ada, how do you prove it is not suited to such systems? The fact that some Ada software applications are horrible is not a function of the language, but a function of poor design, poor software practice, and often, in my experience, poor configuration management. Whatever reasons you may have are not relevant given Ada's record of success. Do you recall the scientific proof that the Bumblebee could not fly because of its aerodymanic properties and wing-span? "Sweeny shifts from ham to ham, Stirring the water in his bath." I do not recal the next two lines of Mr. Eliot's poem, but they have to do with the folly of such proofs. Richard Riehle -- richard@adaworks.com AdaWorks Software Engineering Suite 27 2555 Park Boulevard Palo Alto, CA 94306 (415) 328-1815 FAX 328-1112