saharbaugh%roo.dnet@WINNIE.FIT.EDU (08/16/90)
Several years ago we purchased from Harris a Masscomp workstation with a Verdix compilation system. I told it to compile some files and got "segmentation error" on one file. I elided the code and found that the Ada case statement was causing the "segmentation error". Harris looked into it and found that the code generator assumed that the "Lightning Board" was present of the math coprocessor chip. note: the error occurred at compile time, it was the code generator code causing the fault. There were two approaches to solving the problem as I saw it 1) recompile the code generator so that did not assume the lightning board or 2) add a lightning board to the computer so the code generator would be happy. Harris choose approach 2, add the board, but since our project could not afford to buy a lightning board (about $5000 as I remember) and since we had purchased a system rather than piece parts HARRIS ADDED THE LIGHTNING BOARD AT NO CHARGE. There are two points I want to make from this experience, 1) Unless you are really qualified to integrate software parts and pieces with hardware parts and pieces, BUY YOUR Ada COMPILATION SYSTEM FROM A SYSTEM VENDOR 2) There is at least one system vendor who accepts their system responsibility and backs it up with their checkbook and good engineers. I'll report next year on the ones we are working with now and let you know how they did but so far they are doing a good job also. p.s. I don't own any Harris stock. regards, sam harbaugh ---------------------