Re: Will (abstract) Ada code improve over time ?

[lutz@iks-jena.de (Lutz Donnerhacke)]

* Reinert Korsnes wrote:
>Since Ada code is (supposed to be) on a higher abstraction level than for
>example C, does this mean that we can expect new compilers and hardware
>over time (10 years ?) will make a program made in Ada more
>efficient/faster than a similar C program ?

Assuming the same optimizer complexity, it might be true, because Ada
provides more and more precise information to the compiler than C.

>I assume most software development is made within a time perspective less
>than 10 years -:)

This design goal is well known: Such software can be easily identified.

>(though within pure commercial property development, for example,
>investors must think about reselling and hence value in far future).

This is a complete other term: Development time. Ada allows much better
reusability than C. And Ada programms are much faster debugged than C
programms. (Assuming equaly experienced programmers)

>I assume the runtime efficiency of programs is a question for much special
>niches.  One example could be operative systems. Linux ?

Linus tried to convert the kernel to C++ in order to get faster development
cycles due to stronger typing but failed miserably due to compiler errors
and language ambiguity.