Re: Newcomers to

[David Botton <david@botton.com>]

> Ada market today is essentially owned by one player. If Adacore will stop passing
> their work to gcc developers there is no more free in beer Ada compiler.

Not true, they are not in a position to remove the GMGPL or GPL from their software completely even when giving the false impression they could.

They do not distribute their PRO version and I wouldn't ask their customers to give out a copy, however every person in possession of a copy has the full right to give away or even sell what they have, source, bin, everything.

So even though only one vendor customer positions are very secure and so is the future of the compiler regardless of AdaCore.


> There is no way to guarantee what is reliable for the future unless you
> control all of it. gcc or Adacore can make license term changes unacceptable
> for you.

They do so only to the capacity they think they can get away with it by putting out a pure "GPL" version. I question if in fact they have such a right to encumber the runtime, but as I pointed out a above is irrelevant since (besides that they themselves periodically give their run time to the FSF, who actually has the copyright , for distribution) any customer is secure and the community as a whole that the entire system could be taken over and managed by the community or any other enterprising individuals.

> They can stop developing. Nothing is assured. Even if you pay they
> can always go out of business. It happened before.

They do a great job so no one challanges it, but if they stopped others would step in.

I would say that the compiler insecurity is the last issue Ada has to worry about.

(Easy to find GMGPL runtimes that are up to date, is real, but even that surmountable without having to ask someone to give you a copy).

David Botton