Re: Translating an embedded C algorithm

["Alexander E. Kopilovich" <aek@VB1162.spb.edu>]

Jeffrey Carter wrote:

>> I am in the process of writing a book about real-time embedded
>> development (hardware and software). 
>> 
>> Unfortunately I'm really a C programmer, with very little experience
>> of other languages, ...
>
>I would think that someone qualified to write such a book would be 
>familiar with at least one language that was designed for RT embedded SW 
>development. Such a language would have things like tasking, timing, and 
>fixed-point types built in.
>
>Clearly C is not such a language, so I have to wonder about the 
>qualifications of someone who only knows C.

Translation of Jeff's reply:

Ada has many features, which are directly related to real-time embedded
programming, and which have no counterparts in C (tasking, timing, and
fixed-point types built in).

Therefore there is little chance for translation of a program of that kind
from C to Ada without essential redesign of that program (for making proper
use of available Ada features).

But if the program will be redesigned for Ada then there will be little sense
in placing those C and Ada implemetation side-by-side for comparison.

So, within this kind of software, probably C and Ada may be sensibly put
side-by-side not for pieces of code or relatively small algorithms, but only
for whole projects (applications or even systems).