From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 3.4.4 (2020-01-24) on polar.synack.me X-Spam-Level: X-Spam-Status: No, score=-1.9 required=5.0 tests=BAYES_00 autolearn=ham autolearn_force=no version=3.4.4 X-Google-Language: ENGLISH,ASCII-7-bit X-Google-Thread: 103376,2c41845dd8e1b7c4 X-Google-Attributes: gid103376,public X-Google-ArrivalTime: 2003-05-12 11:35:28 PST Path: archiver1.google.com!news1.google.com!newsfeed.stanford.edu!logbridge.uoregon.edu!hammer.uoregon.edu!skates!not-for-mail From: Stephen Leake Newsgroups: comp.lang.ada Subject: Re: Problem space (Re: Using Ada for device drivers? (Was: the Ada mandate...)) Date: 12 May 2003 14:27:43 -0400 Organization: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (skates.gsfc.nasa.gov) Message-ID: References: NNTP-Posting-Host: anarres.gsfc.nasa.gov Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii X-Trace: skates.gsfc.nasa.gov 1052764991 22470 128.183.235.92 (12 May 2003 18:43:11 GMT) X-Complaints-To: usenet@news.gsfc.nasa.gov NNTP-Posting-Date: 12 May 2003 18:43:11 GMT User-Agent: Gnus/5.09 (Gnus v5.9.0) Emacs/21.2 Xref: archiver1.google.com comp.lang.ada:37250 Date: 2003-05-12T18:43:11+00:00 List-Id: "Alexandre E. Kopilovitch" writes: > "Robert I. Eachus" wrote: > >I think my first deep insight into the implications of Ada programming > >came in 1983, just after Ada 83 became an ANSI standard. I told someone > >working on our (Ada) compiler: "No, in Ada you model the problem space, > >not the solution space." I then excused myself for a minute to write it > >on my office whiteboard. > > I wish that statement will be placed on all major Ada sites, in boldface and > at the top of their homepages. I agree it's a good concept. But push it to the extreme, and people will say we should be programming in UML, not Ada. Even in C++ and C, I can program in the problem space. It's not as easy, but I can do it. > But that truth should be also considered from the opposite > direction: if you (your team) can't deal efficiently with problem > space for any reason (most often because you either aren't familiar > with the problem area or simply it isn't clear what is problem at > all in the case) then you should not expect better perfomance using > Ada. True. > Moreover, probably a language, which is used frequently for similar > applications is a better choice in such a situation, because there > are chances that some constructs of the language will lead you to > sufficient solutions, and at least you may find (and recognize!) > suitable examples. Libraries and example code I'll give you. Language won't matter that much. Of course, it really depends on the domain. > In my view that explains why Ada is (and will be) used relatively > rarely: because the situations where either problem space is too > vaguely defined or programmers are insufficiently familiar with the > problem area constitute vast majority of overall software > development. Does that mean UML is equally doomed? The market seems to think not. -- -- Stephe