SAHARBAUGH@ROO.FIT.EDU (06/20/91)
Marty Leisner writes:
The DoD probably made a mistake for providing a framework for a vendor system
rather than taking responsibility for a standard ADA compiler itself amd
distributing it cheaply.
--
Just a bit of history in case you didn't know the DoD spent
over $30M to have an Ada compiler developed. The outcome was
less than desired performance wise I understand but I believe
that they "distribute it cheaply". I for one am sorely disappointed
and I believe financially at a loss because there is not
available to me a production quality, Gov't furnished Ada
compiler with source code etc. My point is mainly that you
can't blame the DoD for not trying. Actually I never place
blame for the outcome because I know I couldn't have done it
if my life depended on it. I think it was just too soon
to try for production quality in one step.
--
While I'm rambling let me repeat my suggestion that I posted
several years ago: Take the $30M and offer a $10M 1st prize,
$5m 2nd prize, $1M 3rd prize for the best Ada compiler submitted
on a certain date. The DoD would have had 3 fairly good compilers
and had $14M left for maintenance, tools etc. Oh well, it just
shows how good hindsight can be. If I only knew what to do in real-time.
sam harbaugh saharbaugh@ROO.FIT.EDU
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