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From: Shark8 <onewingedshark@gmail.com>
Newsgroups: comp.lang.ada
Subject: Re: How do I write directly to a memory address?
Date: Tue, 8 Feb 2011 13:09:41 -0800 (PST)
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Date: 2011-02-08T13:09:41-08:00
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On Feb 8, 1:01=A0pm, Hyman Rosen <hyro...@mail.com> wrote:
>
> How is it the fault of C that we now program on these platforms?

Because managers have had reinforced the erroneous idea that:
"C is the *only* valid systems-level language." for one.

> How do you test the third bit of a byte in Ada?

One Way, assuming a 1..8 numbering for an 8-bit byte:
 SubType Bits is Positive Range 1..Byte'Size;
 Type Bit_Mask is Array ( Bits'Range ) of Boolean;
 For Bit_Mask'Size use Byte'Size;

Function Test_Bit( Value : In Byte; Bit : In Bits )  Return Boolean is
  Mask : Bit_Mask;
  For Mask'Address use Value'Address;
  Pragma Import( Ada, Mask );
begin
  Return Mask(Bit);
end Test_Bit;

> *Why* do you test the third bit of a byte in any language?

Why does a hardware device set the third bit of some information?
To communicate.

> Are you sure that the questions you are asking reflect the needs
> of your organization rather than representing the "get off my lawn"
> screams of a paradigm becoming obsolete?

That sort of precision is needed for ANY sort of device-driver, such
paradigm will never become obsolete so long as new/different
devices are introduced or some existing device needs support where
previously it had none (i.e. bootstrapping).