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: 103376,1ea92c0e5255811d X-Google-Attributes: gid103376,public X-Google-ArrivalTime: 2003-03-05 05:28:39 PST Path: archiver1.google.com!news1.google.com!sn-xit-02!sn-xit-06!sn-xit-09!supernews.com!pd2nf1so.cg.shawcable.net!residential.shaw.ca!news-out.spamkiller.net!propagator2-maxim!news-in.spamkiller.net!news.he.net!cyclone-sf.pbi.net!151.164.30.35!cyclone.swbell.net!newsfeed1.easynews.com!easynews.com!easynews!newsfeed1.earthlink.net!newsfeed.earthlink.net!stamper.news.pas.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: Way OT: Adam Smith and Software Markets Date: Wed, 5 Mar 2003 08:13:23 -0500 Organization: MindSpring Enterprises Message-ID: References: NNTP-Posting-Host: d1.56.bd.fa X-Server-Date: 5 Mar 2003 13:14:52 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:34894 Date: 2003-03-05T13:14:52+00:00 List-Id: O.K. I can live with that. Given that one needs to ask what "Better" means to the programming language consumer. So C/C++ may be "better" because there is a huge installed base of software out there that can be used to gain leverage in building apps. Or perhaps it is a matter of familiarity the programmers have with the language. Or maybe it is the availability of lots of tools for developing in those languages. Or the low cost of compilers. Or infrastructure of home-grown support tools. Or availability of compilers for target hardware. Or combinations of all of the above and probably a few more. The point is that Ada standing around saying "I'm *technically* better than C/C++/Java/Whatever..." is ignoring what it is that the *consumer* of programming languages thinks is "better" and may be interested in buying. I suspect that if Ada had a large library of utility code, a slick IDE, a GUI and maybe some support tools it might find less resistance because it would be addressing more of what the consumer wants to buy. Right now, it is not "better" in the minds of many because other languages are doing a better job of offering development leverage to the consumer. One ignores Adam Smith at one's peril. Its sort of like ignoring gravity. MDC -- ====================================================================== Marin David Condic I work for: http://www.belcan.com/ My project is: http://www.jsf.mil/ Send Replies To: m c o n d i c @ a c m . o r g "Going cold turkey isn't as delicious as it sounds." -- H. Simpson ====================================================================== Georg Bauhaus wrote in message news:b42vm6$24u$2@a1-hrz.uni-duisburg.de... > > Well, certainly we may choose our word processors, as well as > programming languages, but your original statement said that > the (not really existent smithonian) free market will let the > better product win, with better not specifically defined. Now > saying that the better product is the one with the preferable > qualities you mentioned will clearly make both C and Visual > Basic better programming languages that Ada. >