From: wellerd@ajpo.sei.cmu.edu (David Weller)
Subject: Leffler's Lies: A biased critique of a general
Organization: Software Engineering Institute
Date: Mon, 25 Jan 1993 16:21:44 EST

DISCLAIMER: I don't know this person.  My comments are based entirely
on what I read in Govt. Computer News (Jan 18, 1993).  Please don't
criticize me for reading GCN -- I didn't do it voluntarily (somebody
waved this article in my face).

Leffler's comments reflect the widespread ignorance that the 
military-industrial complex has about Ada.  The _really_ sad
part is that his opinions are almost certainly formed by
misinformation fed to him from his staff of technical experts.

Saddest was his statement: "You don't see any financial
communities in the business world using (Ada).  It's not out in the
commercial venture any place that I'm aware of."

I wonder how the esteemed general got his stars? It certainly
doesn't look like he got promoted on being well-informed.  (Yeah,
yeah, I'll probably be flamed for ad hominem attacks, but I'm 
really getting FED UP with people making ill-informed decisions.
As a positive note for Greg, I also STRONGLY disapprove of
"The Mandate", but for very different reasons).

Purely by virtue of posting to this newsgroup, I know I'm preaching
to the choir, but I'm sick of misinformation and ignorance tarnishing
the technical "smartness" of Ada (I don't dare use the word 
"superiority" for fear of starting a flame war with C++ folks).  Frankly,
C++ is entitled to a niche as much as Ada is, but I find that the
fight is entirely unfair.  You generally don't find "techies" supporting
Ada over C++ because it's like asking them to type with their noses
(Too Slow, Too akward, Not the way programmers are meant to develop,
constrains my artistic expression, etc.).  You'd think by now all the
worn-out excuses would have gone away (expensive compilers, limited
platforms, nobody uses it, etc.), but they haven't.

Bjarne would be in my knickers in a heartbeat if I claimed that
C++ couldn't support generics, exceptions, multiple inheritance,
or had no native compilers, yet such statements were (fairly) true
back in 1985 (Bjarne, I may be off on the year, and apologies if
I am.  Corrections welcome.).  Why do people still accept 1985-based
arguments for NOT using Ada?

Those that forget history are doomed to repeat it.  Ada was created
to stem the proliferation of "pet" languages in embedded systems,
and, although less mentioned, as a general purpose programming
language.  Currently, the biggest threat (if one could call a 
"popular" language threatening) is AT&T's C/C++.  The proliferation
of "pet" languages has pretty much stopped (hence my reason for
eliminating "The Mandate"), but the selection of less well-engineered
languages (i.e., AT&T's C++) raises a great deal of concern in the
Ada community.  On one hand, we can say it is a Good Thing, since 
it basically forces Ada compiler vendors to write more efficient
compilers (without cost to taxpayers) in order to meet the competition
head-on.  On the other hand, it's a Bad Thing, since, once a project
has started in X language, it usually stays that way.

C++ is enjoying it's heyday now, but 10 years from now, when the
SNODGRASS programming language becomes popular, we'll go through
another shift in the "language I WANT to use vs. language I HAVE to
use" war.

Gads!  I've rambled horrendously, but Leffler's comments made me mad.
Ada is an excellent language to use.  For systems where stability,
safety, and maintainability are important (like govt. s/w systems),
Ada is (generally) a better choice.  Let people know that, don't
accept second-best.  Go to hostile audiences and attack the ignorance
(in your own way).  You may not change their minds, but you'll
educate them a little more.

I encourage each of you to write Maj. Gen Leffler about his
comments.  Don't point out where he is wrong (I'm sure several people
have by now), instead, point out where Ada has worked well.  Tell
him what you do and don't like about Ada, but DON'T sit in silence!

Most of all, if his interview on pg 14 makes you REALLY mad,
send MGen Leffler some salami slices to:

	Maj. Gen Samuel Leffler
	Commanding General
	USAISC
	Ft. Huachuca, AZ
		85613-5000


(Hint: Read the last paragraph in the article about salami slices)

Newsgroups: comp.lang.ada