Re: Ada and Automotive Industry

[ken@nrtt.demon.co.uk (Ken Tindell)]

In article <dewar.848062556@merv>
dewar@merv.cs.nyu.edu (Robert Dewar) wrote:

> I think it would be entirely possible to target the 8-bit chips, given
> resources, but at this stage, I think this would be a case of looking
> too far backwards on the technology curve, and there would not be a market
> for such a product anyway, so the utility of such a product is likely
> to remain moot.

Here we have a statement that so clearly shows the gulf between the
academics shouting about Ada, and the engineers in the real world.
Robert clearly thinks that there would not be a market for an Ada product
on an 8-bit device because the device is "too far backwards on the
technology curve". We have a contributor to this thread from Ford, saying
how the 68HC11, the '05, the '08 and so on are used extensively in
the automotive industry (and in many other industries). The 68HC08 is
a new device. The 68HC12 was launched last year. I think Motorola
would challenge the statement that they are far behind on the technology
curve. The automotive industry makes extensive use of 8-bit devices,
and this is going to continue for some years.

I happen to agree with Robert Dewar that there would be no market
for an Ada compiler for 8-bit devices. The code it generated wouldn't
fit in the available RAM and ROM, it would be too slow, and no-one would
buy it.