HOT_Ada Follow-up

[bscrawford@tasc.com (Bard Crawford)]

HOT_Ada, the Hypertext course on Object Technology and Ada 9X, 
was announced in AdaIC News of the Week, 11/28/94.  I have 
received a number of requests for more information, by e-mail 
and in person at Tri-Ada.

Summarized below are brief answers to some of the questions.

Bard S. Crawford
Stage Harbor Software  bscrawford.aol.com
TASC                   bscrawford.tasc.com
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What does the course cover?
---------------------------
HOT_Ada is a two-volume course/tutorial, distributed on floppy 
disks. Volume 1, the "core" part of the course, provides a 
pictorial introduction to object technology (OOA and OOD 
presented in a language-independent manner) and a pictorial 
introduction to Ada 9X, with emphasis on its OOP features.  
Volume 2 provides an extended case study with a step-by-step 
illustration of the OOA, OOD and OOP concepts outlined in 
Volume 1.  A mixture of classification and composition 
approaches is illustrated.  The OOA and OOD material is 
strongly influenced by the Fusion Method, a fusion of OMT, 
Booch, Coad-Yourdon, et al.  HOT_Ada is designed for 
individual, self-paced learning.  One version runs on 
Macintoshes.  Another version runs on PC's with Windows.
There are many hypertext and hypergraphic features.  For 
example, you can click on a "hot word" to see its 
definition in the Glossary, or click on a "hot icon" in a 
diagram to jump to the corresponding line of Ada source code 
in a previously hidden listing.  A major theme of the 
course is the reuse of patterns and parts.

Who can benefit from HOT_Ada?
-----------------------------
Several categories of people can benefit from self-study using 
HOT_Ada. If you are familiar with Ada 83, and have begun to 
study Ada 9X, you can supplement other efforts by reviewing 
this picture-based material and the case study.  If, as an 
Ada software engineer,  you want to learn more about object 
technology in general, especially the Fusion approach, 
HOT_Ada provides an ideal combination for learning and 
"tying it all together."  If you are a newcomer to Ada, 
the visual approach of HOT_Ada may provide you with an 
excellent way to start your learning process -- to be 
followed up using traditional text and classroom methods.


What are the System Requirements? - PC
--------------------------------------
Any PC with Windows Version 3.0 or later should be fine. You 
will need about six MB of free space on your hard disk.(Two 
MB for the ToolBook runtime and three MB for the two volumes 
of HOT_Ada.) The beta version had been distributed on 4 disks. 
Version 1.1 has been compressed, and is being delivered on a 
single disk.  You will need to "unzip" it.

What are the System Requirements - Mac
--------------------------------------
Any reasonably modern Mac (e.g., Mac II or PowerBook) with two 
MB of RAM or more should work OK, but older "small screen" 
Macs will be awkward, due to a lot of graphical scrolling that 
will be needed.  Version 1.1 is being delivered on two disks, 
without compression.  (Each disk contains the HyperCard 
runtime integrated with a volume of HOT_Ada.) You will need 
about three MB of free space on your hard disk.

Compiler Included ?
-------------------
No, HOT_Ada does not include a compiler.  It is similar to a 
set of tutorial slides, except for the hyper-linking features 
and the fact that you can proceed at your own pace and 
accommodate your own learning style and needs.

Price?
------
The regular price is $29 for a single volume, $49 for the 
two-volume set.  During Tri-Ada and until 31 Dec 1994, an 
introductory price of $30 for the two-volume set is in effect.

How did it go at Tri-Ada?
-------------------------
HOT_Ada was informally demonstrated to a number of people. The 
reaction was generally good, and many interesting ideas and 
suggestions for future directions were made. More than ten 
sets were sold to indivduals, including non-US citizens -- 
from Switzerland, Germany, Spain and Australia. Several 
discussions concerning future site licenses with companies and 
Government agencies were initiatiated. In summary, I was 
very encouraged. This effort will continue and future 
improvements and new volumes will be created -- collaborators 
who have domain expertise and wish to create focused case 
study volumes are sought.  (Your suggestions by e-mail are 
welcome at any time.)

How about a Special Deal for SIGAda Members?
--------------------------------------------
Hal Hart initiated a discussion of possibilities for making 
HOT_Ada available to SIGAda members, perhaps through the local 
chapters, at favorable terms.  We kicked around several 
notions.  I promised to consider this matter further and come 
up with some sort of offer -- stay tuned. A free evaluation 
copy was provided to Rush Kester, who chairs the DC SIGAda 
chapter --Rush is interested in items that may support their 
initiative in helping High School students learn about 
software engineering, O-O, Ada, etc.

How to Order by Mail?
---------------------
Simply write a personal check for $30 to Stage Harbor Software 
and mail it to Stage Harbor Software, 9 Patriots Drive, 
Lexington, MA 02173.  Be sure to specify the Windows or Mac 
version of HOT_Ada, and include your e-mail address if you 
have one. (Credit card orders cannot be accepted -- perhaps 
later -- I will look into this.)To order from outside the USA, 
you can send an International Postal Money Order or have your 
bank wire funds to my account at The Cooperative Bank, 
12 Nagog Park, Acton, MA,01720-9890, USA, 
Account: Bard S. Crawford, Stage Harbor Software, 
Account Number  03520457558  
-- and let me know separately that you are dong so.