harbaughs@EGLIN-VAX.ARPA ("Samuel S. Harbaugh") (11/03/85)
It's been awhile since a list of suggested Pragmas was collected via info-Ada. I think i'll stir things up by saying: ** Down with Pragmas ** I consider Pragmas to be outside the Ada language when they do anything that causes the compiled code to be different than if they were not present. I consider Pragmas that turn the source code listing on or off to be an annoyance and I would rather not have them at all. Pragmas make me dependent on the compiler vendor and I want to be able to have a suite of compilers selecting the one best suited for the application and situation.(Remember when you would use the Fortran compiler for everyday use and then, when your masterpiece was almost done, reach for the optimizing compiler, H level I recall). Suppose I want to add a function and I imagine that I can do it either with a Pragma or as a library function (e.g. Disable Interrupts). If I make it a library function I can write it myself and be done with it. If I specify a Pragma then I must get my compiler vendors to modify the compiler which may take a long time. -- While I'm stirring let me also propose: ** I Don't Want an Ada Run-Time Environment ** There is the computer. There is Ada. Writing in Ada I want to be able to completely control the hardware. I will functionally layer the Ada, and I will name the layer next to the hardware "Applications Run-Time Environment" but it will be written in Ada. Therefore I expect the vendor who is supplying me Ada for a "Bare Target" to give me a package system that gives me complete control of the underlying hardware (e.g. interrupts). I want the library supplied by the vendor to also contain a selection of preprogrammed components for my Application Run-Time Environment such as a selection of task dispatchers, interrupt handlers etc. that I can modify and recompile if I wish. The Ada run-time environment concept makes me dependent on the vendor ( I'm in an independent mood lately). I don't want the vendor to decide how my tasks are dispatched. I don't want a vendor specific pragma timeslice. I want my computer and Ada and I don't want any compiler vendor toolmarks on my Ada. [Constructive comments are invited] -- regards, sam harbaugh --------------------- ------