This standard binding capability has made Ada much less objectionable to people with large legacy systems. It does take time to learn to use the tools. The Ada tools are expensive because the market is smaller. Part of my job is to increase the commercial market to reduce the price points. If the market gets bigger by commercializing Ada thereby increasing demand, there will be more venture capital, and the price points should come down.
Cost is a problem.
Some things look more promising. Intermetrics, Inc.'s Patriot Ada compiler received 100 percent validation in October 1995. Patriot Ada is based on Intermetrics' Ada 95 compiler front end, AdaMagic . Thomson Software Products has been licensed to use AdaMagic in its upcoming suite of Ada 95 compilers. Product versions for Windows and UNIX platforms will be available by July 1996.