Re: Standard Ada Preprocessor

[Jeffrey Carter <spam@spam.com>]

Warren W. Gay VE3WWG wrote:

> Try writing a binding to curses, to run with:
> 
>   - UNIX real curses
>   - GNU curses
>   - PDcurses
> 
> then, make it compile and work for win2k, Linux, Solaris,
> and HPUX. Do it without gnatprep or code generation.

Where's the specification for "curses" that I'm to write a binding to? 
Clearly it's no larger than the intersection of the 3 curses packages 
you named. Where's your solution, that cannot be achieved with a 
preprocessor?

If you're asking for everything in all 3 packages, then why not say 
"Give me a binding to everything and make it compile and work on 
everything?" That's not requirements for a realistic application; 
they're pie-in-the-sky wishing for a DWIM system.

> Yes, you can dumb this assignment down to a few curses calls
> and be successful at this. But try providing the full complement
> of functionality for each of the above curses libraries.

This is your problem. Give me requirements for an application that needs 
to do X, Y, Z, and W. Show me your solution and why you think a 
preprocessor is necessary for it. Then I can show you how I can do it 
without a preprocessor.

I met your challenge. It's time to put your time where your mouth is and 
meet mine.

-- 
Jeff Carter
"Son of a window-dresser."
Monty Python & the Holy Grail
12