Re: Ada Component Registry proposal

["Alexandre E. Kopilovitch" <aek@vib.usr.pu.ru>]

Robert I. Eachus wrote:

> > Is your proposal just for a registry of packages and not
> > to actually put together a library in terms of packages ?
>
> Correct.  It should end up being an inventory of what exists and is 
> available, as well as, a guide to who is using which names.  But that is 
> information useful to someone putting together a consistant library, not 
> a library in and of itself.
>
> > I must admit that if this is the case, I have probably
> > volunteered for something I thought was something else :-)
> > 
> > Another thought, what would the "registry" provide more than
> > an equivalent web page of links to other peoples packages ?
>
> Yes.  If nothing else the existance of the registry should make it much 
> easier for people to find out what is "out there" and available for use. 
>  So it will promote reuse just by existing.
>
> But only if combined with a project to pull together a joint library 
> will it fullfill its intended purpose.  I chose this as a first step I 
> can make happen.

As far as I can see now, there are 2 very different purposes for the Registry.
They have in common a major notion of "referencing", but in other respects
they are different and even possibly potentially conflicting.

First of them is pure Software Engineering purpose: to have a firmly established
way for unambiguous referencing a known component. This is something similar
to Java "packages" in its purpose (but not in design), yes?

The second purpose is providing a kind of searchable public database where one
can find candidates for reuse. This database should differ from other public
resources of this kind in that that it should be better suited for systematic
and organized software development.

Then, if I understand correctly, the first purpose is considered as primary
one; and at this initial stage it takes all attention, while the second purpose
is expected to care for itself for some time. Well, this seems quite reasonable.




Alexander Kopilovitch                      aek@vib.usr.pu.ru
Saint-Petersburg
Russia