Re: ADA vs Java

[HansF <News.Hans@telus.net>]

On Sat, 18 Jun 2005 07:13:58 -0500, Larry Kilgallen interested us by
writing:

> 
> "Sue them over a bug in the compiler" certainly seems related to
> safety/reliability.  I doubt the suit would be over trademark misuse.
> 
> I am not sure how the statement about Microsoft C/C++ is related.
> The question was about Ada vs. Java.  So which Ada compilers have
> such a restriction ?

The following deals with typical commercial software companies:

You will find that many 'modern companies' have contracts and disclaimers
that are created by their lawyers.  They have nothing to do with 'actual'
safety and reliability and everything to do with 'potential' safety and
reliability.  

(Just because a bug has not been found, that does not imply that the
software is totally bug free.  And even if it is bug free, are there
'exceptional results' which may be found, possibly at previously
undiscovered boundary conditions?)

Without such statements, companies must include the possibility of a
lawsuit due to error or negligence as a risk factor in their SEC-filed
financial statement.  And then analysts look at the total risk factors and
'determine' the possible stock price.  The stock price, of course, tells
us which are 'good' companies.  (Good, perhaps meaning, those who have
enough disclaimers to avoid risk-based lawsuits?)

The previous post mentioned Microsoft C/C++ simply to indicate that the
practise of using such disclaimers is not unusual.

Barring such a blanket disclaimer, the company's insurance would expect
a documented test suite that demonstrates how the product handles a
variety of possible failure conditions.  Even then, the company will
frequently add a disclaimer limiting liability if the product is used
outside the scope of the demonstrated test cases.

Bottom line - read your license agreement.  Especially the fine print.


-- 
Hans Forbrich                           
Canada-wide Oracle training and consulting
mailto: Fuzzy.GreyBeard_at_gmail.com   
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