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Subject:
From:
Richard Conn <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Richard Conn <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Tue, 1 Aug 2000 03:56:50 -0400
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text/plain (79 lines)
Observing/recognizing the problem is the first step in its solution.
I suspect you have noted the title change in my CDROMs from just "Ada"
to "Ada and Software Engineering."  I suspect this, plus the change in
the back covers describing the non-Ada material on the CDROMs, is a way
to correct at least a part of the problem ... create books on more than
just Ada, and tie them in with another topic of more general interest.

How's that for a solution proposal?

Rick
====================================
Richard Conn, Principal Investigator
Reuse Tapestry


-----Original Message-----
From: Michael Feldman [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Monday, July 31, 2000 11:11 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Cc: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Taking a pulse of the Ada and Software Engineering
communities


Rick et al,
>
> Hi, Everyone,
>
> I took a little trip this weekend to local computer stores and book
stores,
> in part to take a pulse of the presence of Ada and Software Engineering
> materials in the public view.  While this is a small sample, it may be
> interesting to hear if others have the same observations:
>
>   1. Ada books are gone from the shelves.  Zero.  I read into this that
>      computer stores and book stores no longer find it profitable to
>      carry them.
>   2. Ada compilers and tools are also not present - with one exception.
>      I found copies of my Ada and Software Engineering Library CDROMs.
>   3. The number of Software Engineering books has increased from the
>      last time I looked - I saw 8 different titles, 5 of which were
>      published by Microsoft Press.
>   4. Outside of the commercial sector, I found a couple of Ada books
>      in two local university bookstores.  I also found Ada and Software
>      Engineering Library CDROMs there.
>
> The pulse looks pretty weak,
> Rick

This is an excellent statement of a problem we face. I doubt that
anyone on Team-Ada was unaware of the basic state of affairs, but
now we are all informed.

So Rick, specifically, what solutions, or paths to solutions, are you
proposing to strengthen the pulse? And who do you think is best suited
to carry them out? It would be nice to see a crisp numbered list
for these, too.

If you just bemoan problems, devoid of proposals for how to improve
the situation, you risk being pegged as just another Greg Aharonian.
We all know you are far more than that, so please try to make some
constructive suggestions.

 * * * * *

BTW - the larger computer stores around Washington still carry a
large collection of Ada books, old and (most important) new.

This includes Reiters, the traditional downtown technical bookstore.
This is located a few blocks from GW, and "backstops" the GW bookstore
on textbook adoptions, but also is the major downtown store.
Their Ada cxollection goes well beyond the books we use at GW.
Also, I go fairly often (every few months) to MicroCenter in Fairfax
and Borders in Tysons Corner, and both are maintaining large Ada
collections. That the various newer volumes tend to come and go is
evidence that they are being purchased and then restocked.

Mike Feldman

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