A product, such as Ada, with minimal marketing will crumble. The classic
example of excellent marketing leading to an inferior product gaining
widespread consumer acceptance is Java.  In order to revivify a product, one
usually changes the name.  Unfortunately, since SPARK is being used as a
trade-name, I do not think that we could use it.  However a product with a
new name based on the equivalent of the SPARK subset with the assertions
generated by ASIS might fly.
   The problems associated with the use of Ada by small innovative companies
are further exacerbated by the pricing of the best Ada compiler, GNAT.  A
binary pricing scheme of $10,000 or $0 should be a classic example for
teaching in business schools.
   For an extended discussion of what needs to be done, please visit my
corporate web site, www.newportinstruments.com and go to the Ada_Med page.
I hope that the PowerPoint presentation that was played at SIGAda 2004
should be a reasonable starting place to revitalize Ada.  Because this
PowerPoint file includes audio, it is 10 megabytes. A SVG based competitor
to PowerPoint with improved recording capabilities and effective sound
compression could acquire significant market share.
   Bob Leif

   -----Original Message-----
From: Team Ada: Ada Programming Language Advocacy (83 & 95)
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of David Botton
Sent: Wednesday, November 24, 2004 9:51 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Internal Crumble

   The Ada world as a whole often looks like it is crumbling... There was
   a message posted on comp.lang.ada asking about what was new at the
   SigAda conference. If no one answers this kind of post it doesn't help
   to boost interest in SigAda, the conference or the ultimately the
   language.

   Also, Does any one know how to contact Magnus Kempe. He usually ignores
   my e-mail offers to purchase the AdaHome domain for a while and then
   sends a polite, No.. but my latest e-mail attempts have not been
   success in reaching him at all.

   David Botton
   http://www.adapower.com