Jacob Sparre Andersen wrote: > I kind of like the idea of writing an operating system in > Ada, but we shouldn't just recreate Linux, MSW, OS/2, or > whatever our favourite operating system happens to be. If we > do it, it should be designed completely in the "Ada spirit" > (whatever that means in operating system and user interface > design). > Would it be stupid to attempt to write a portable > browser/HTML renderer in Ada? If our propaganda is true it > shouldn't take nearly as much work as the Mozilla project. > This could also gain valuable statistics for a comparison of > Ada95 and "C++". I'll try to avoid ranting, and confine myself to the possible. Question One: Is there anybody out there who seriously thinks that Windows in any of its incarnations has a design or implementation of acceptable quality? No? Didn't think so. So far no controversy. Now for something that I'm sure will rub many the wrong way. Sorry, but "I calls em how I sees 'em" Question Two: How about Unix? In particular, them many different mutually incompatible brands of Unix? e.g. HP's BLS (B level Security), Solaris, Linux in its various incarnations? Are these good, solid, highly secure OS's greatly improved from the days of the late 70s? How does, for example, your Brand X Unix (without any add-ons) handle GUIs, Multiple Threads, Networks and Hard Real Time in a portable, simple way? Some do one thing well, but none AFAIK does them all well, or even adequately considering it's 1999. In 1976, when I had my first experience with Unix, I said "This is wonderful, it is THE Operating System for the 1980's!". It's now late 1999, and I still think it's an operating system for the 1980s. Now's the time when I should be adducing the qualities of X the Wonder OS, in order to make yet another sterile contribution in an OS Religious War. But AFAIK there is no 'good' OS at the moment, not one that's kept pace with advances in technology. So what do we require of an OS these days? I have a few ideas of my own, but I'd like others to chime in first. Because although such a Really Good OS would almost certainly languish like a certain Really Good Language has since 1983, it would still be a -um - Really Good Thing if it existed. And as far as I can see, Ada's the way to implement it. But is Ada perfect? Nope. Are there any easily defined features that Ada doesn't have that it perhaps should if it's to be used for writing this RGOS? -- http://www2.dynamite.com.au/aebrain [log in to unmask] <> <> How doth the little Crocodile | Alan & Carmel Brain| xxxxx Improve his shining tail? | Canberra Australia | xxxxxHxHxxxxxx _MMMMMMMMM_MMMMMMMMM [log in to unmask] o O*OO^^^^OO*O o oo oo oo oo By pulling MAERKLIN Wagons, in 1/220 Scale