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From: dewar@cs.nyu.edu (Robert Dewar)
Subject: Re: C is 'better' than Ada because...
Date: 1996/08/02
Date: 1996-08-02T00:00:00+00:00	[thread overview]
Message-ID: <dewar.839019726@schonberg> (raw)
In-Reply-To: 4tnoeh$qjr@maverick.tad.eds.com


Darrin asks

""Why Ada?  Who has ever proven it to be better than COBOL for typical business
apps?"

Well first of all the claim only makes sense for Ada 95, and of course no
one has proven any such thing, since there has barely been enough time to
do preliminary prototype implementations, let alone comparative evaluations.

However, speaking as someone who knows COBOL and Ada 95 well (I am probably
one of the only people who has done both a COBOL validation and an Ada 95
validation :-) I would say that it is a reasonable proposition.

The information systems annex capabilities provide the key support that
is missing in Ada 83 for scaled decimal arithmetic, and picture processing,
and these are the only two areas in which COBOL is otherwise potentially
superior (and was superior to Ada 83).

Otherwise the standard features of Ada (stronger typing, better abstraction
capabilities, runtime checking ...) seem to me clearly superior to what
COBOL has to offer. I am quite a fan of COBOL, but it does show the
problems of being built on a somewhat kludgy foundation.





  parent reply	other threads:[~1996-08-02  0:00 UTC|newest]

Thread overview: 272+ messages / expand[flat|nested]  mbox.gz  Atom feed  top
1996-06-19  0:00 C is 'better' than Ada because Alan Brain
1996-06-20  0:00 ` Ron Thompson
1996-06-22  0:00 ` Nasser Abbasi
1996-06-22  0:00   ` David Morton
1996-06-22  0:00     ` Robert Dewar
1996-06-23  0:00       ` The Deviant
1996-06-23  0:00         ` Robert Dewar
1996-06-23  0:00         ` John Winters
1996-06-23  0:00         ` Michael Feldman
1996-06-24  0:00         ` token%/etc/HOSTNAME
1996-06-23  0:00     ` John Winters
1996-06-23  0:00       ` David Morton
1996-06-23  0:00         ` Lawrence Kirby
1996-06-27  0:00           ` ) OH NO "...begs the question..." Ralph Silverman
1996-06-28  0:00             ` Bill Wendling
1996-06-23  0:00         ` C is 'better' than Ada because John Winters
1996-06-23  0:00           ` David Morton
1996-06-30  0:00   ` Nasser Abbasi
1996-06-23  0:00 ` Nasser Abbasi
1996-06-23  0:00   ` Fergus Henderson
1996-06-23  0:00     ` Robert Dewar
1996-06-28  0:00       ` Fergus Henderson
1996-06-29  0:00 ` Kevin D. Quitt
1996-06-29  0:00   ` Robert Dewar
1996-06-30  0:00   ` Fergus Henderson
1996-07-01  0:00     ` Mike Roske
1996-07-01  0:00       ` Robert Dewar
1996-07-02  0:00       ` Ken Garlington
1996-07-03  0:00     ` Kevin D. Quitt
1996-07-04  0:00       ` Ian Ward
1996-07-05  0:00         ` Peter Amey
1996-07-05  0:00           ` Robert Dewar
1996-07-10  0:00             ` James A. Squire
1996-07-15  0:00               ` Oliver Kellogg
1996-07-16  0:00                 ` Oliver Kellogg
1996-07-18  0:00                   ` Fraser Wilson
1996-07-18  0:00                     ` Fergus Henderson
1996-07-19  0:00                   ` Keith Thompson
1996-07-17  0:00                 ` Robert Dewar
1996-07-11  0:00             ` James A. Squire
1996-07-16  0:00             ` Nasser Abbasi
1996-07-16  0:00               ` Mark A Biggar
1996-07-17  0:00             ` James A. Squire
1996-07-17  0:00             ` Laurent Guerby
1996-07-17  0:00               ` David Emery
1996-07-18  0:00             ` James A. Squire
1996-07-07  0:00           ` Kevin D. Quitt
1996-07-08  0:00             ` Robert Dewar
1996-07-10  0:00               ` John F. Bode
1996-07-11  0:00                 ` Mike Roske
1996-07-10  0:00               ` Peter Hermann
1996-07-15  0:00                 ` Tim McGuire
1996-07-16  0:00                   ` Kevin D. Quitt
1996-07-16  0:00                     ` Robert Dewar
1996-07-18  0:00                     ` Ken Garlington
1996-07-19  0:00                       ` Kevin D. Quitt
1996-07-19  0:00                         ` Richard O'Rourke
1996-07-22  0:00                           ` Kevin D. Quitt
1996-07-22  0:00                             ` Robert Dewar
1996-07-23  0:00                               ` Theodore E. Dennison
1996-07-23  0:00                               ` Kevin D. Quitt
1996-07-24  0:00                                 ` Theodore E. Dennison
1996-07-24  0:00                                   ` Kevin D. Quitt
1996-07-25  0:00                                     ` Alan Brain
1996-07-25  0:00                                     ` Steve Howard
1996-07-27  0:00                                     ` Bob Kitzberger
1996-07-26  0:00                                   ` Mike Roske
1996-07-25  0:00                                 ` Fergus Henderson
1996-07-25  0:00                                   ` Kevin D. Quitt
1996-07-26  0:00                                     ` kennedy1
1996-07-26  0:00                                     ` Fergus Henderson
1996-07-23  0:00                               ` Tim Behrendsen
1996-07-24  0:00                                 ` Theodore E. Dennison
1996-07-27  0:00                                   ` Tim Behrendsen
1996-07-29  0:00                                     ` Dirk Dickmanns
1996-07-30  0:00                                       ` Tim Behrendsen
1996-07-31  0:00                                         ` whiting_ms@corning.com (Matt Whiting)
1996-07-31  0:00                                         ` Dirk Dickmanns
1996-07-31  0:00                                           ` Kevin D. Quitt
1996-08-01  0:00                                             ` Alan Brain
1996-08-02  0:00                                               ` Kevin D. Quitt
1996-08-05  0:00                                                 ` Byron B. Kauffman
1996-08-15  0:00                                               ` Mike Roske
1996-08-15  0:00                                                 ` David Shochat
1996-08-16  0:00                                                   ` Ken Garlington
1996-08-16  0:00                                                 ` John Herro
1996-08-16  0:00                                                   ` John Herro
1996-08-16  0:00                                                 ` Jon S Anthony
1996-08-05  0:00                                             ` Robb Nebbe
1996-08-02  0:00                                           ` Dirk Dickmanns
1996-07-29  0:00                                     ` Bob Kitzberger
1996-07-30  0:00                                       ` Tim Behrendsen
1996-07-30  0:00                                         ` Richard A. O'Keefe
1996-07-30  0:00                                           ` Tim Behrendsen
1996-07-30  0:00                                         ` Theodore E. Dennison
1996-07-29  0:00                                     ` Ada is 'better' than C because John Herro
1996-07-30  0:00                                       ` Brian Rogoff
1996-07-30  0:00                                         ` Adam Beneschan
1996-07-31  0:00                                         ` Franz Kruse
1996-08-04  0:00                                       ` Richard Riehle
1996-08-05  0:00                                         ` Sandy McPherson
1996-08-06  0:00                                           ` Ken Garlington
1996-08-06  0:00                                             ` GAFFNEY.BRIAN
1996-08-07  0:00                                               ` Ken Garlington
1996-08-08  0:00                                             ` Theodore E. Dennison
1996-08-08  0:00                                               ` Frank Lipski
1996-08-09  0:00                                             ` Sandy McPherson
1996-08-15  0:00                                             ` Mike Stark
1996-08-07  0:00                                           ` Bob Kitzberger
1996-08-08  0:00                                           ` Robert Dewar
1996-08-08  0:00                                             ` Kevin D. Quitt
1996-07-30  0:00                                     ` C is 'better' than Ada because Theodore E. Dennison
1996-08-08  0:00                                     ` Ada is 'better' than C because William Clodius
1996-08-09  0:00                                       ` Robert Dewar
1996-08-09  0:00                                       ` Kevin D. Quitt
1996-08-12  0:00                                       ` OBryan Anthony H
1996-08-12  0:00                                         ` Bob Kurtz
1996-08-12  0:00                                         ` Lawrence Kirby
1996-08-13  0:00                                         ` Tom Watson
1996-08-14  0:00                                         ` Robert Dewar
1996-07-29  0:00                                   ` C is 'better' than Ada because system
1996-07-30  0:00                                     ` Tim Behrendsen
1996-07-24  0:00                                 ` JamesS1889
1996-07-24  0:00                                 ` Dirk Dickmanns
1996-07-25  0:00                                 ` Alan Brain
1996-07-18  0:00                     ` Bob Gilbert
1996-07-19  0:00                       ` Kevin D. Quitt
     [not found]               ` <4rvr2j$2gb0@info4.rus.uni-s <nhn30yhw6t.fsf@paralysys>
1996-07-18  0:00                 ` Robert Dewar
1996-07-18  0:00                 ` Kevin D. Quitt
1996-07-26  0:00                 ` Richard Riehle
1996-07-08  0:00             ` C is 'better' than Ada ... NOT!! Hugh Dunne
1996-07-08  0:00               ` Frank Manning
1996-07-08  0:00               ` Kevin D. Quitt
1996-07-12  0:00                 ` C is 'better' than Ada because John F. Bode
1996-07-15  0:00                   ` Sandy McPherson
1996-07-18  0:00                     ` Robert Dewar
1996-07-19  0:00                       ` Theodore E. Dennison
1996-07-19  0:00                     ` Ken Garlington
1996-07-20  0:00                       ` Michael Feldman
1996-07-21  0:00                         ` Alfonso Urdaneta
1996-07-21  0:00                           ` Robert Dewar
1996-07-22  0:00                             ` Kevin D. Quitt
1996-07-22  0:00                               ` Robert Dewar
1996-07-26  0:00                               ` Richard Riehle
     [not found]                             ` <31f3c52e.238719470 <Pine.GSO.3.92.960726122347.25896E-100000@nunic.nu.edu>
1996-07-31  0:00                               ` Darrin Smith
1996-07-31  0:00                                 ` Fergus Henderson
1996-08-01  0:00                                 ` Jerry van Dijk
1996-08-06  0:00                                   ` Kirk Bradley
1996-08-09  0:00                                   ` Richard Riehle
1996-08-10  0:00                                     ` Craig Franck
1996-08-16  0:00                                       ` Richard Riehle
1996-08-18  0:00                                         ` Craig Franck
     [not found]                                       ` <Pine.GSO.3.92.960816102000. <4v5pis$4h1@mtinsc01-mgt.ops.worldnet.att.net>
1996-08-18  0:00                                         ` David Weller
1996-08-15  0:00                                     ` Mike Stark
1996-08-02  0:00                                 ` Robert Dewar [this message]
1996-08-11  0:00                             ` Jon S Anthony
     [not found]                             ` <31f3c52e.238719470 <4uj42h$j06@mtinsc01-mgt.ops.worldnet.att.net>
1996-08-11  0:00                               ` Doug & Rose Miller
1996-08-11  0:00                                 ` Craig Franck
1996-08-11  0:00                                   ` Doug & Rose Miller
1996-08-12  0:00                                     ` Craig Franck
1996-08-16  0:00                                       ` nasser
     [not found]                             ` <31f3c52e.238719470 <4v5pis$4h1@mtinsc01-mgt.ops.worldnet.att.net>
1996-08-18  0:00                               ` Doug & Rose Miller
1996-08-20  0:00                                 ` Craig Franck
1996-07-23  0:00                         ` Ken Garlington
1996-07-27  0:00                       ` Tim Behrendsen
1996-07-27  0:00                         ` Lawrence Kirby
1996-07-29  0:00                         ` Ian Ward
1996-07-30  0:00                         ` Bob Cousins
1996-07-30  0:00                           ` Robert Dewar
1996-09-05  0:00                             ` Bob Cousins
1996-08-13  0:00                       ` Jon S Anthony
1996-08-14  0:00                         ` Craig Franck
1996-08-28  0:00                           ` Van Snyder
1996-08-14  0:00                       ` Jon S Anthony
1996-08-15  0:00                         ` Craig Franck
1996-08-15  0:00                           ` Joe Gwinn
1996-08-16  0:00                             ` Don Nelson
1996-08-19  0:00                               ` Joe Gwinn
1996-08-19  0:00                                 ` Ken Garlington
1996-08-28  0:00                         ` Van Snyder
1996-08-30  0:00                           ` Norman H. Cohen
1996-08-15  0:00                       ` Stefan 'Stetson' Skoglund
1996-08-15  0:00                       ` Jon S Anthony
1996-08-20  0:00                         ` nasser
1996-07-19  0:00                     ` Theodore E. Dennison
1996-08-15  0:00                     ` David Weller
1996-08-15  0:00                       ` William  C Brennan
1996-07-08  0:00             ` Ian Ward
1996-07-18  0:00               ` Hamilton Link
1996-07-19  0:00                 ` Kevin D. Quitt
1996-07-10  0:00             ` Stephen M O'Shaughnessy
1996-07-10  0:00               ` Peter Seebach
1996-07-18  0:00             ` Brian Rogoff
1996-07-19  0:00             ` James A. Squire
1996-07-29  0:00             ` William Clodius
1996-07-30  0:00               ` Richard A. O'Keefe
1996-07-30  0:00                 ` Tim Behrendsen
1996-08-01  0:00                   ` Byron B. Kauffman
1996-08-01  0:00                     ` Ian Ward
1996-07-30  0:00               ` Robert Dewar
1996-07-31  0:00                 ` Tim Behrendsen
     [not found]                   ` <9608020139.AA29105@pulsar.telesoft>
1996-08-02  0:00                     ` Tim Behrendsen
1996-08-05  0:00                       ` Kevin D. Quitt
1996-08-06  0:00                         ` is Ada 'better' than C? (Was: Re: C is 'better' than Ada because...) Antoine Leca
1996-08-06  0:00                           ` Kevin D. Quitt
1996-07-31  0:00               ` C is 'better' than Ada because Ralph Silverman
1996-07-30  0:00             ` William Clodius
1996-08-01  0:00               ` Tim Behrendsen
1996-07-30  0:00             ` Robert I. Eachus
1996-08-01  0:00               ` David Wheeler
1996-08-01  0:00             ` Olivier Devuns @pulsar
1996-08-11  0:00             ` Jon S Anthony
1996-08-12  0:00               ` Craig Franck
1996-08-12  0:00                 ` John Howard
1996-08-13  0:00                   ` Craig Franck
1996-08-13  0:00                     ` Ken Garlington
1996-08-14  0:00                       ` Craig Franck
1996-08-12  0:00                 ` James A. Squire
1996-08-12  0:00                   ` Craig Franck
1996-08-14  0:00                 ` Stephen M O'Shaughnessy
1996-08-14  0:00                 ` Stephen M O'Shaughnessy
     [not found]                 ` <Pine.GS <gwinn-1908961215100001@smc19.ed.ray.com>
1996-08-19  0:00                   ` Adam Beneschan
1996-08-11  0:00             ` Ada 95 is a FREE language (was: C is 'better' than Ada because...) Laurent Guerby
1996-08-13  0:00             ` C is 'better' than Ada because Jon S Anthony
1996-08-13  0:00             ` Jon S Anthony
1996-08-14  0:00             ` Norman H. Cohen
1996-08-19  0:00             ` Jon S Anthony
1996-08-20  0:00               ` Craig Franck
1996-08-20  0:00             ` Jon S Anthony
1996-08-21  0:00               ` Craig Franck
1996-08-27  0:00             ` Valentin Bonnard
1996-07-06  0:00         ` Walter B. Hollman Sr.
1996-07-05  0:00       ` Jon S Anthony
1996-07-08  0:00         ` Peter Hermann
1996-07-09  0:00           ` Dirk Dickmanns
1996-07-12  0:00       ` ntxbow
1996-07-15  0:00         ` Kevin D. Quitt
1996-07-15  0:00           ` Robert Dewar
1996-07-16  0:00           ` Ian Ward
1996-07-17  0:00             ` Dale Stanbrough
1996-07-23  0:00       ` Jon S Anthony
1996-07-29  0:00       ` William Clodius
1996-07-31  0:00       ` Darin Johnson
1996-08-01  0:00         ` Tim Behrendsen
1996-08-01  0:00       ` Jon S Anthony
1996-08-01  0:00       ` Jon S Anthony
1996-08-05  0:00       ` Stefan 'Stetson' Skoglund
1996-08-16  0:00       ` Jon S Anthony
     [not found] ` <874508446wnr@t-cubed.demon.co.uk>
1996-06-29  0:00   ` Jon S Anthony
1996-07-01  0:00 ` James A. Squire
1996-07-02  0:00 ` Darin Johnson
1996-07-03  0:00   ` If your only tool is a hammer, all your problems look like nails (was Re: C is 'better' than Ada because...) Bruce Clement
  -- strict thread matches above, loose matches on Subject: below --
1996-07-30  0:00 C is 'better' than Ada because Spasmo
1996-07-31  0:00 ` Jon S Anthony
1996-08-01  0:00   ` Tim Behrendsen
1996-08-02  0:00     ` Ralph Silverman
     [not found] ` <01bb7e29$61e3d260$87ee6fce@timpent.airshields.com>
1996-07-31  0:00   ` Bob Kitzberger
1996-07-31  0:00     ` Tim Behrendsen
1996-08-01  0:00 Tim Behrendsen
1996-08-02  0:00 ` Mark McKinney
1996-08-02  0:00 ` David Bonham
     [not found] ` <9608061851.AA17508@camo.brc.shell.com>
1996-08-06  0:00   ` Tim Behrendsen
1996-08-01  0:00 William Clodius
1996-08-03  0:00 ` Tim Behrendsen
1996-08-05  0:00   ` Kevin D. Quitt
1996-08-05  0:00 ` William Clodius
1996-08-05  0:00 ` Stefan 'Stetson' Skoglund
1996-08-04  0:00 @#$%!?!
     [not found] <Pine.GSO.>
     [not found] ` <4 <4vb399$kt8@mtinsc01-mgt.ops.worldnet.att.net>
1996-08-20  0:00   ` Adam Beneschan
1996-08-20  0:00     ` Craig Franck
1996-08-21  0:00     ` Mike Roske
1996-08-21  0:00       ` William  C Brennan
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