Ada Compiler
Why isn't the GNAT Compiler actually built with Haiku? As I understand it, the GCC that comes with Haiku contains the C and C++ compilers. I think Ada support should be included. Actually I think the full suite should be supported. While C++ is the Haiku language of choice for development, there's nothing keeping people from developing applications in other languages. GCJ and G95 are relatively easy to add on once you've got an existing system. GNAT isn't so easy, as large portions of the compiler are written in Ada, leaving two, unpleasant choices. Bootstrap a compiler... or cross-compile on a UNIX system, neither are incredibly fun.
Comments
Re: Ada Compiler
I agree with this - Ada 2005 is an excellent language and would be great on the Haiku platform. Trouble is, I don't personally have the time to maintain it... so if anyone else wants to see it included and has the time to do it, that would be great!
Re: Ada Compiler
I would be more than happy to maintain it. I was just wondering why it wasn't officially in Haiku. I have huge issues even trying to compile GCC with the C and C++ flags though, let alone anything else. Actually come to think of it I've had an easier time compiling most software on Interix... may be I missed some section of the documentation, haha.
Should the developers wish it, I'd also be more than happy to make a full binding of the Be API. Personally I think Haiku would gain from this, but then again I tend to view Ada as a sort of panacea.
Re: Ada Compiler
I would be more than happy to maintain it. I was just wondering why it wasn't officially in Haiku. I have huge issues even trying to compile GCC with the C and C++ flags though, let alone anything else. Actually come to think of it I've had an easier time compiling most software on Interix... may be I missed some section of the documentation, haha.
Should the developers wish it, I'd also be more than happy to make a full binding of the Be API. Personally I think Haiku would gain from this, but then again I tend to view Ada as a sort of panacea.
Hi Patrick,
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Re: Ada Compiler
I also think Haiku would gain from this - there is a nice solidity about Ada that will help bring even more application developers to the platform. A lot of people that use Ada would be impressed to see native support and may even design and create some new applications.
I equally think Haiku should not get too heavy code-wise, and Ada may be seen by some as superfluous to the cleanliness of the system - but part of me feels that Ada fits in nicely with the whole "designed" feel of the platform.
Re: Ada Compiler
I have been using ADA in my University times and explored its features.
But I wonder where it is actually used outside Military/Space & Aeronautics Industry, industries which will not use Haiku as OS any time soon...
At least what I could see, is that it contains threads and synchronization support built in the language.
Will require bindings to the OS kits for making UI applications.
Therefore I guess the port to a new platform is not trivial.
Re: Ada Compiler
It's been used outside Military/NASA/Transportation systems for quite some time. One of the reasons for the 95 standard was to aid this. Look at the reasons for the 2005 standard and you can see more movement towards general purpose. Ada's been used in a great deal of user-space programs (why else is there so many API bindings), ranging from calculators to music players to desktop environments. Heck there's even web servers, and graphics libraries (with DirectX/OpenGl bindings).
While no where near as common as C/C++, Ada has proven itself to be more efficient than C/C++. Look around the web, you will find benchmarks.
Ada would not actually require bindings (although it would be a lot more convenient). Since the 95 spec, Ada compilers had to support bindings to C code. It makes reading the code a tad bit weird, but it's a viable method.
One thing so many people overlook, Ada is a General Purpose language. There's absolutely no reason what was written in C/C++ can't be written in Ada. The idea that Ada is 'micro-controller'/'critical systems' only really bothers me, so sorry about the rant.