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=-0.4 required=5.0 tests=AC_FROM_MANY_DOTS,BAYES_00 autolearn=no autolearn_force=no version=3.4.4 X-Google-Language: ENGLISH,ASCII-7-bit X-Google-Thread: 103376,a1ce307c10055549 X-Google-Attributes: gid103376,public X-Google-ArrivalTime: 2002-12-13 04:52:16 PST Path: archiver1.google.com!news1.google.com!newsfeed.stanford.edu!bloom-beacon.mit.edu!newsswitch.lcs.mit.edu!beamish.news.atl.earthlink.net!news.atl.earthlink.net!stamper.news.atl.earthlink.net!harp.news.atl.earthlink.net!not-for-mail From: "Marin David Condic" Newsgroups: comp.lang.ada Subject: Re: IBM Acquires Rational Ada Date: Fri, 13 Dec 2002 07:51:37 -0500 Organization: MindSpring Enterprises Message-ID: References: <3DF1615C.7AAAC86E@adaworks.com> <3DF1B042.6603DDDE@easystreet.com> <3DF2A483.EC512CDF@adaworks.com> <8db3d6c8.0212091445.12594821@posting.google.com> <3DF628C4.7090607@cogeco.ca> <3DF8D8BF.9020606@cogeco.ca> NNTP-Posting-Host: d1.56.a0.7a X-Server-Date: 13 Dec 2002 12:52:15 GMT X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Newsreader: Microsoft Outlook Express 5.00.2314.1300 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V5.00.2314.1300 Xref: archiver1.google.com comp.lang.ada:31784 Date: 2002-12-13T12:52:15+00:00 List-Id: Fair enough and an apt description of the problem. Consider that while there may be dozens of libraries/tools that get you at least part of the way there, you don't really have a single, well integrated, orthogonal, "conventional" answer. If Ada were to shoot for coming up with a means of addressing the areas you describe (User Interface, Database, OS Interface, Network) it would go a long way toward providing the developer with the needed leverage. I could imagine parent packages that do the things that can be made portable across the major systems (Windows, *nix, MacOS, etc.) with allowable child packages that provide the features that can only be had in some specific implementation. Build a reference implementation shared by all the vendors and update it regularly and I think you've really got something there. MDC -- ====================================================================== Marin David Condic I work for: http://www.belcan.com/ My project is: http://www.jast.mil/ Send Replies To: m c o n d i c @ a c m . o r g "I'd trade it all for just a little more" -- Charles Montgomery Burns, [4F10] ====================================================================== Warren W. Gay VE3WWG wrote in message news:3DF8D8BF.9020606@cogeco.ca... > > But consider the challenges of a Windows programmer that wants to write his > application in Ada: > > - A user interface beyond tty (console) mode is required (text or GUI) > - Database access is required (very few serious applications can do > without this). > - O/S interfaces (e.g. printing and registry) > - Network APIs > > Right away the user has a 3 or 4-way struggle, with the first being the > user interface (GtkAda, CLAW, GWindows, or a > binding to curses?) Should the app be portable to Linux? This reduces > the choices still further. > > What Ada database support exists? Near none. Do you build bindings to > to Microsoft's APIs? Do you use other bindings like those that exist > for PostgreSQL (or like mine ;-) > > What bindings are there for registry use? > > Do you need COM access (GNATCOM?) > > Which Ada socket binding do you use? > > Should the application be written with GNAT specific features? Should > gnatprep be used as a preprocessor for portability? > > > Linux and FreeBSD application writers face many of these same tough > decisions. The reality at present, is that general purpose application > development is a tougher road to tread at the moment in Ada. Things are > improving with the help of volunteered software from all over, but > I think there needs to much more before the masses will swallow the > challenges that they'll face. > > > Most programmers are wimps! > > > Things need to get easier. > > -- > Warren W. Gay VE3WWG > http://home.cogeco.ca/~ve3wwg >