CONTR47@NOSC-TECR.ARPA (08/13/87)
there is more to the universe than just these. Why do people believe that translation to a compiled language, or a language such as Ada is essential for a 'delivered' system? I am honestly interested in other people's views and experiences, even though my expectations lead me to believe that such translation is far less important than the creation of a solution to a complex problem. Please put your nickels on the table, I think we can all benefit. ** My Nickels' Worth ** 1 * Why I want delivered code compiled in Ada * 1. The older I get the more I value Logistics Support. I buy a car based on where I can get parts and whether the tools in my toolbox can be used to repair it. Thus I have never owned an electronic fuel injected engine . I traded in our office copier which sat 14 days unfixed waiting for a part from Xerox for a Harris brand whose corp. headquarters and parts stock is about a mile away. A pleasant byproduct is that it also makes nice copies. Get to the point, Sam. Well I want delivered software in a form that can be economically maintained. That means that tools and trained maintenance people are readily available. A clever software design expressed in non-Ada is not as interesting as an Ada solution because every day the available tools and the number of trained people is growing. Keep in mind that for a constant amount of development effort the maintenance problem increases at least linearly with time. 2. My second big reason for wanting Ada code is trustworthiness. I do not trust software packages. At least with Ada I have some chance that I can read it and spot "time-bombs" etc. If I have source code to the Ada compiler and runtime environment at least I have a chance to spot malicious or accidental code which will fail at a critical moment or embed malicious code in my program. please deposit 5 cents for another 2 reasons. regards, sam harbaugh ---------------------
ronald@csuchico.EDU (Ronald Cole) (08/20/87)
In article <8708131742.AA16796@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU>, CONTR47@NOSC-TECR.ARPA writes: > If I have source code to the Ada compiler and runtime environment... Will there ever be a GNU Ada and GNU APSE? Just wondering... ;^} -- Ronald Cole | uucp: ihnp4!csun!csuchic!ronald AT&T 3B5 System Administrator | PhoneNet: ronald@csuchico.edu @ the #_1_ party school in the nation: | voice (916) 895-4635 California State University, Chico "It's O.K." -Hal Landon Jr., Eraserhead