Re: Ada & MacOS

[Maciej Sobczak <no.spam@no.spam.com>]

Martin Krischik wrote:

>>OK but how with the compatibility of code compiled on Gnat that is part
>>of GCC between MacOS, Windows and Linux ?
> 
> It's Ada not C or C++. Ada compilers obey and not ignore the ISO standart.
> Ada compilers come without a 10 page list of ISO standart features not yet
> and probably never to be implemented. Ada does not only have an ISO
> standart - it also has an ISO standart test suite. BTW: The only
> programming language with an official standart test suite.
> 
> Ada is most likely the most compatible programming language in existence
> that compiles into binary code.

Of course, not counting "features" of different compilers, right? If you 
say "Ada compiler", then is GNAT a good example? Doesn't it have any 
"features" that can affect compilability/behaviour of some code?

The words "compiler bug" appear in comp.lang.ada archive, don't they?

In the same way, C++ guys can say that C++ is an incredibly portable 
language, with compilers existing for almost every piece of silicon in 
existence. Well, except of some compiler "features" that spoil the 
picture, of course.


> That's for theory, in pratice: I have used Ada with OS/2, MS-Windows, Linux,
> OpenVMS and the tendency is:  if it runs in one OS it will run on any other
> as well. Well: unless you use OS specific features or grab deep down into
> the System packages.

Same for C++. One of the users of my recent code (non-trivial, I would 
say) compiled it on MacOS by typing "make", even though I've never 
touched Mac. So?

Granted, the fact that Ada has a standard test suite is a Very Good 
Thing, really. The lack of such test suite for C++ allowed various 
vendors to put big "C++" letters on whatever shi^H^H^H product they 
wanted to sell over the last decade or so and that's the cause for the 
C++ landscape to look so messy today. But don't present it to be 
entirely hopeless, because it isn't.


-- 
Maciej Sobczak : http://www.msobczak.com/
Programming    : http://www.msobczak.com/prog/