Re: Ada noob here! Is Ada widely used?

["Nasser M. Abbasi" <nma@12000.org>]

On 6/5/2010 5:59 AM, Dmitry A. Kazakov wrote:


> Sorry guys, maybe I missed the point, but Ada does have complex types. See
> ARM G.1.
>

I meant complex type in ada is not an elementary type. as in

http://www.adaic.org/standards/05rm/html/RM-3-2.html

"The elementary types are the scalar types (discrete and real) and the 
access  types (whose values provide access to objects or subprograms). 
Discrete types are either integer types or are defined by enumeration of 
their values (enumeration types). Real types are either floating point 
types or fixed point types."

and

http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Ada_Programming/Type_System

I copied the list from above:

"Here is a broad overview of each category of types; please follow the 
links for detailed explanations. Inside parenthesis there are 
equivalences in C and Pascal for readers familiar with those languages."

Signed Integers (int, INTEGER)
Unsigned Integers (unsigned, CARDINAL)
unsigned they also have wrap-around functionality.
Enumerations (enum, char, bool, BOOLEAN)
Floating point (float, double, REAL)
Ordinary and Decimal Fixed Point (DECIMAL)
Arrays ( [ ], ARRAY [ ] OF, STRING )
Record (struct, class, RECORD OF)
Access (*, ^, POINTER TO)
Task & Protected (no equivalence in C or Pascal)
Interfaces (no equivalence in C or Pascal)

I do not see complex type there :)

Ofcourse, a standard generic package for complex type, I knew that.

In FORTRAN:

http://www.fortran.com/F77_std/rjcnf-4.html#sh-4

"4.1 Data Types
The six types of data are:

    1. Integer
    2. Real
    3. Double precision
    4. Complex
    5. Logical
    6. Character

"

So, complex is an elementary type, like an integer is.

I am learning to use complex numbers in Ada from wiki Ada book, was 
looking at the examples here:

http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Ada_Programming/Mathematical_calculations#Complex_arithmethic

and it seem many packages need to be instantiated just to use complex 
numbers.

with Ada.Text_IO.Complex_IO;
with Ada.Numerics.Generic_Complex_Types;
with Ada.Numerics.Generic_Complex_Elementary_Functions;

etc..

I just meant it seems "easier" to use complex numbers in FORTRAN than 
Ada, just because one does not to do all this instantiating every where. 
But I hope to learn to use complex numbers better in Ada, I have very 
little experiences with this in Ada.

--Nasser