From: Bob Leif
To: Wes Groleau
If the AdaIC Website will concentrate on the newer parts of XML that use XML
syntax, such as: XML, schemas, XSL (extensible style language), and SVG
(Scalable Vector Graphics) based on the newly published schema, and the
latest version of XForms, it will be reliable, portable and lead the way to
the XML-Ada synergy. It will also serve as a source of tools, which could
make Ada the number one commercial language. Portability between operating
systems is now assured because the Adobe SVG Viewer is now available on
Windows, Macintosh System 8.5 - 9.0, Linux and Solaris.  According to W3C
(http://www.w3.org) "Schemasoft (http://www.schemasoft.com/) have announced
three new SVG-related tools: Catwalk, a tool for generating XSLT Graphical
Stylesheets that output SVG, a MathML to SVG converter which uses XSLT to
generate SVG from MathML and an SVG Presentation Kit for producing
presentations from an XML source. Schemasoft's XML2001 presentation,
"Graphical Stylesheets: Using XSLT to Generate SVG", is also available
online." The capacity to transform XSL into SVG brings needed coherence to
the XML world. Parenthetically, versions of these XML tools in Ada could be
superior to the present ones. The rapid evolution of XML standards is an
advantage for Ada developers. The upgrades required by this rapid evolution
can be considered maintenance, which is where Ada shines.

-----Original Message-----
From: Team Ada: Ada Advocacy Issues (83 & 95)
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of [log in to unmask]
Sent: Thursday, December 06, 2001 5:53 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: AdaIC Website revamped


> > As for "beyond HTML and scripting"--any Java (or even
> > bytecode from Ada), Javascript, DHTML, etc.--anything
> > that does client side processing--should be viewed on
> > Internet Explorer, Netscape 4.75-4.79, Netscape 6.x,
> > Opera, OmniWeb, and WebTV or the WebTV emulator on MacOS
> > 9, Mac OS X, Windows NT/2000, Window 95/98, and at least
> > one Unix.
>
> Considering how proud we are that Ada compilers actually are
> validated as following an international standard, the AdaIC
> web site should show the same respect for the official HTML
> recommendations from the World Wide Web Consortium.

I do not in any way mean to imply otherwise.  I would recommend
that AdaIC & ARA aim for all web pages served to contain _nothing_
contrary to the latest HTML, XML, and CSS specifications, and
accessibility guidelines.

HOWEVER, that does not mean they are required to use every feature.
Last time I checked, there existed NO browser that correctly
handles every feature, and some browsers do a VERY poor job.
A well-designed PORTABLE website should only use features that
render reasonably well on most browsers.

A good Ada programmer is not going to scatter tasking and generics
all over the place just because he/she is able to.  Many of us do
not use the outstanding Annex E features because only one compiler
supports them.

If the mission is to provide information about Ada, then to
use HTML or CSS features that trash 25% of the Web browsers
would be counter-productive.

--
Wes Groleau
http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~wgroleau