Does Visual ADA exist?

Does Visual ADA exist?

[corlioni1976]

Hello All,

I am trying to evaluate the transfer of a program written in ADA that runs
on an old DOS based computer to a win2000 computer.  I need to make the
program user friendly by giving it a graphical user interface.   At the
moment its just a text interface.  I will probably have to rewrite the
program.  Does Visual ADA exist?  If not, is there software that can be used
to convert (cross compile) ADA to C or C++ so I can convert to visual C or
visual C++?

Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated.

Regards

Naveed

Re: Does Visual ADA exist?

[Ole-Hjalmar Kristensen]

>>>>> "c" == corlioni1976  <corlioni1976REMOVE@yahoo.co.uk> writes:

    c> Hello All,
    c> I am trying to evaluate the transfer of a program written in ADA that runs
    c> on an old DOS based computer to a win2000 computer.  I need to make the
    c> program user friendly by giving it a graphical user interface.   At the
    c> moment its just a text interface.  I will probably have to rewrite the
    c> program.  Does Visual ADA exist?  If not, is there software that can be used
    c> to convert (cross compile) ADA to C or C++ so I can convert to visual C or
    c> visual C++?

    c> Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated.

    c> Regards

    c> Naveed

Yes, there are bindings to various graphics subsystems. Depends on what
capabilities you need, really. There is a binding to OpenGL should you
require 3D graphics, and on windows you have Claw
(http://www.rrsoftware.com/html/prodinf/claw/claw.htm), which is an
interface to the Windows functions, including the GUI functions, and
there is GtkAda, a binding to Gtk+, if you want portable graphics.

-- 
   C++: The power, elegance and simplicity of a hand grenade.

Re: Does Visual ADA exist?

[corlioni1976]

"Ole-Hjalmar Kristensen"
<ole-hjalmar.kristensen@substitute_employer_here.com> wrote in message
news:wvbrpt0ckuwo.fsf@sun.com...
> >>>>> "c" == corlioni1976  <corlioni1976REMOVE@yahoo.co.uk> writes:
>
>     c> Hello All,
>     c> I am trying to evaluate the transfer of a program written in ADA
that runs
>     c> on an old DOS based computer to a win2000 computer.  I need to make
the
>     c> program user friendly by giving it a graphical user interface.   At
the
>     c> moment its just a text interface.  I will probably have to rewrite
the
>     c> program.  Does Visual ADA exist?  If not, is there software that
can be used
>     c> to convert (cross compile) ADA to C or C++ so I can convert to
visual C or
>     c> visual C++?
>
>     c> Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated.
>
>     c> Regards
>
>     c> Naveed
>
> Yes, there are bindings to various graphics subsystems. Depends on what
> capabilities you need, really. There is a binding to OpenGL should you
> require 3D graphics, and on windows you have Claw
> (http://www.rrsoftware.com/html/prodinf/claw/claw.htm), which is an
> interface to the Windows functions, including the GUI functions, and
> there is GtkAda, a binding to Gtk+, if you want portable graphics.
>
> --
>    C++: The power, elegance and simplicity of a hand grenade.

Hi, Thanks for your reply.

I will visit the website and take a look at what they offer.

Naveed

Re: Does Visual ADA exist?

[tmoran]

> > (http://www.rrsoftware.com/html/prodinf/claw/claw.htm), which is an
> > interface to the Windows functions, including the GUI functions, and
>I will visit the website and take a look at what they offer.
  Look at "bigjob" in the set of demo packages.  It's specifically a
simple example of bolting a GUI onto an existing, non-GUI, "big job"
program.  In essence, when the program wants to write to the screen,
instead of using Ada.Text_IO, it puts the info into a status record and
calls for a screen redraw.  The redraw shows the new (or what's changed)
info from the status record.  Asynchronous user window menu selections
similarly put information in a command record, and the main program, at
appropriate times, looks there to see if it needs to take some action.
The "Bigjob" demo doesn't show user input requests from the main program
(ie, Ada.Text_IO.Get) - that's done with dialog boxes.  See the other
demos or docs for those.
  You mention your Ada program runs on DOS - which compiler did it use?

Re: Does Visual ADA exist?

[Marius Amado Alves]

> I am trying to evaluate the transfer of a program written in ADA that runs
> on an old DOS based computer to a win2000 computer.  I need to make the
> program user friendly by giving it a graphical user interface.   At the
> moment its just a text interface.  I will probably have to rewrite the
> program.  Does Visual ADA exist?  If not, is there software that can be used
> to convert (cross compile) ADA to C or C++ so I can convert to visual C or
> visual C++?

You should take the chance to do it all in Ada using one the many 
excelent Ada GUI libraries available. If nothing fancy use JEWL.

But... if you really want to use a C GUI library then I would recomend a 
bilingual construction. You already have the business logic in Ada. 
Leave it there. Don't "rewrite" it: just make a wrapper around it that 
exports it to C. Then make you gadgets in C connecting to the business 
logic thru this wrapper.

Re: Does Visual ADA exist?

[corlioni1976]

[-- Warning: decoded text below may be mangled, UTF-8 assumed --]
[-- Attachment #1: Type: text/plain, Size: 1665 bytes --]

"Marius Amado Alves" <amado.alves@netcabo.pt> wrote in message
news:mailman.42.1105447548.527.comp.lang.ada@ada-france.org...
> > I am trying to evaluate the transfer of a program written in ADA that
runs
> > on an old DOS based computer to a win2000 computer.  I need to make the
> > program user friendly by giving it a graphical user interface.   At the
> > moment its just a text interface.  I will probably have to rewrite the
> > program.  Does Visual ADA exist?  If not, is there software that can be
used
> > to convert (cross compile) ADA to C or C++ so I can convert to visual C
or
> > visual C++?
>
> You should take the chance to do it all in Ada using one the many
> excelent Ada GUI libraries available. If nothing fancy use JEWL.
>
> But... if you really want to use a C GUI library then I would recomend a
> bilingual construction. You already have the business logic in Ada.
> Leave it there. Don't "rewrite" it: just make a wrapper around it that
> exports it to C. Then make you gadgets in C connecting to the business
> logic thru this wrapper.
>

Hi Marius,

Thanks for your reply.  Do you know of any good ada compilers out there that
I could use.  I am a beginner (last C programming was done 4 years ago and
VHDL 5 months ago) when it comes to ada.  I don't really want to learn ada
and relearn C again.  If I can save time by just learning some ada and
transport the code  that way and add a GUI to it I think that will save me
alot of time in the long run.  I dont mind paying for the compiler if what I
get is good (the company will pay), but it still needs to be relatively
cheap (<�500 GB).  Can you recommend any?

Thanks
Naveed

Re: Does Visual ADA exist?

[Marius Amado Alves]

> Thanks for your reply.  Do you know of any good ada compilers out there that
> I could use.  I am a beginner (last C programming was done 4 years ago and
> VHDL 5 months ago) when it comes to ada.  I don't really want to learn ada
> and relearn C again....

Hmm... I don't see how you can pull it off without some working 
knowledge of Ada and C. Anyway, the free compiler out there is GNAT. 
Latest public version 3.15p I think. The full installation also compiles 
C I think (there used to be a GNATGCC that did this fine--it's been some 
time since my last multilingual project). You should visit an Ada center 
for more options: adapower.com, adaworld.com, adaic.org... You'll find 
free GUI libraries on this places also.

Re: Does Visual ADA exist?

[Martin Krischik]

corlioni1976 wrote:

> "Marius Amado Alves" <amado.alves@netcabo.pt> wrote in message
> news:mailman.42.1105447548.527.comp.lang.ada@ada-france.org...
>> > I am trying to evaluate the transfer of a program written in ADA that
> runs
>> > on an old DOS based computer to a win2000 computer.  I need to make the
>> > program user friendly by giving it a graphical user interface.   At the
>> > moment its just a text interface.  I will probably have to rewrite the
>> > program.  Does Visual ADA exist?  If not, is there software that can be
> used
>> > to convert (cross compile) ADA to C or C++ so I can convert to visual C
> or
>> > visual C++?
>>
>> You should take the chance to do it all in Ada using one the many
>> excelent Ada GUI libraries available. If nothing fancy use JEWL.
>>
>> But... if you really want to use a C GUI library then I would recomend a
>> bilingual construction. You already have the business logic in Ada.
>> Leave it there. Don't "rewrite" it: just make a wrapper around it that
>> exports it to C. Then make you gadgets in C connecting to the business
>> logic thru this wrapper.
>>
> 
> Hi Marius,
> 
> Thanks for your reply.  Do you know of any good ada compilers out there
> that
> I could use.

Well there is GNAT as part of the GCC:

http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Programming:Ada:Installing

The 3.15 version can do Ada and C, the current MinGW implementations will do
Ada, C and C++. Combine it with GPS.

> I am a beginner (last C programming was done 4 years ago and 
> VHDL 5 months ago) when it comes to ada.  I don't really want to learn ada
> and relearn C again.

How do you plan to port an application without learning the language? I hate
to burst your bubble but porting applications is among the most difficult
jobs since you need in deepts knowlege of both platforms in order to know
the differences between the two.

> If I can save time by just learning some ada and 
> transport the code  that way and add a GUI to it I think that will save me
> alot of time in the long run. 

GNAT comes with several GUI toolkits - GTKAda beeing the most known one.

> I dont mind paying for the compiler if what 
> I get is good (the company will pay), but it still needs to be relatively
> cheap (<ￜ500 GB).  Can you recommend any?

Well GNAT without support is free :-) . Support however is very
expensive :-( .

With Regards

Martin

-- 
mailto://krischik@users.sourceforge.net
http://www.ada.krischik.com

Re: Does Visual ADA exist?

[Frank Beard]

[-- Warning: decoded text below may be mangled, UTF-8 assumed --]
[-- Attachment #1: Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii, Size: 2984 bytes --]

Aonix ObjectAda is pretty good
(http://www.aonix.com/objectada_win.html).  The
Professional Version is about $500 USD, or so, if I
remember correctly.  The Enterprise Edition is more,
and I think there is a level below the Pro version.

The ObjectAda IDE is very similar to MS VC++, and
somewhat similar to Delphi.  I've been waiting for
them to enhance the GUI builder for quite some time.

There is a free limited version
(http://www.aonix.com/oa_win_demo.html).  It also
includes the GUI Builder.  Unlike the full-up
versions, there is a limit on the size and number of
files you can have in the project, and the number of
widgets you can have on a window, as well as the
number of windows.  It will at least tell you if you
might be interested in using it.  It may also give you
enough for what you need.

Frank

--- corlioni1976 <corlioni1976REMOVE@yahoo.co.uk>
wrote:

> "Marius Amado Alves" <amado.alves@netcabo.pt> wrote
> in message
>
news:mailman.42.1105447548.527.comp.lang.ada@ada-france.org...
> > > I am trying to evaluate the transfer of a
> program written in ADA that
> runs
> > > on an old DOS based computer to a win2000
> computer.  I need to make the
> > > program user friendly by giving it a graphical
> user interface.   At the
> > > moment its just a text interface.  I will
> probably have to rewrite the
> > > program.  Does Visual ADA exist?  If not, is
> there software that can be
> used
> > > to convert (cross compile) ADA to C or C++ so I
> can convert to visual C
> or
> > > visual C++?
> >
> > You should take the chance to do it all in Ada
> using one the many
> > excelent Ada GUI libraries available. If nothing
> fancy use JEWL.
> >
> > But... if you really want to use a C GUI library
> then I would recomend a
> > bilingual construction. You already have the
> business logic in Ada.
> > Leave it there. Don't "rewrite" it: just make a
> wrapper around it that
> > exports it to C. Then make you gadgets in C
> connecting to the business
> > logic thru this wrapper.
> >
> 
> Hi Marius,
> 
> Thanks for your reply.  Do you know of any good ada
> compilers out there that
> I could use.  I am a beginner (last C programming
> was done 4 years ago and
> VHDL 5 months ago) when it comes to ada.  I don't
> really want to learn ada
> and relearn C again.  If I can save time by just
> learning some ada and
> transport the code  that way and add a GUI to it I
> think that will save me
> alot of time in the long run.  I dont mind paying
> for the compiler if what I
> get is good (the company will pay), but it still
> needs to be relatively
> cheap (<�500 GB).  Can you recommend any?
> 
> Thanks
> Naveed
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> comp.lang.ada mailing list
> comp.lang.ada@ada-france.org
>
http://www.ada-france.org/mailman/listinfo/comp.lang.ada
> 


__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around 
http://mail.yahoo.com 

Re: Does Visual ADA exist?

[Wes Groleau]

corlioni1976 wrote:
> I could use.  I am a beginner (last C programming was done 4 years ago and
> VHDL 5 months ago) when it comes to ada.  I don't really want to learn ada

If you had any success with VHDL, then you won't have any trouble
with Ada.  It's like the difference between Castilian and Mexican.

-- 
Wes Groleau
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
^  A UNIX signature isn't a return address, it's the ASCII equivalent ^
^  of a black velvet clown painting.  It's a rectangle of carets      ^
^  surrounding a quote from a literary giant of weeniedom like        ^
^  Heinlein or Dr. Who.                                               ^
^                                -- Chris Maeda                       ^
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Re: Does Visual ADA exist?

[David Botton]

On 2005-01-11 06:28:29 -0500, "corlioni1976" 
<corlioni1976REMOVE@yahoo.co.uk> said:

> Hello All,
> 
> I am trying to evaluate the transfer of a program written in ADA that runs
> on an old DOS based computer to a win2000 computer.  I need to make the
> program user friendly by giving it a graphical user interface.   At the
> moment its just a text interface.  I will probably have to rewrite the
> program.  Does Visual ADA exist?

See http://www.gnavi.org for a Delphi like environment in progress and 
it framework that is complete for Win32 and in progress for Linux and 
Mac http://www.gnavi.org/gwindows

CLAW is available for Win32

See www.adapower.com for links, etc.

GtkAda and Tash are available for cross platform / Linux development.

All the above can be used with GNAT.

ObjectAda has a Visual Ada like environment as well and a GUI builder.

GNAT and ObjectAda can both compile to C and C++ if needed as well.

David Botton

Re: Does Visual ADA exist?

[sclairmont]

Hi Naveed,

Our company is SofCheck.  We are located in Burlington Massachusetts
and were originally part of Intermetrics.  Our technical team helped
lead the development of Ada 95.  Please note that amongst our offerings
we do have an ADA -> C converter.  In addition we do offer one time
translation services.

If you are interested, please feel free to contact me for further
details.

Best Regards,

Steve Clairmont
SofCheck, Inc.
Email:  steve.clairmont@sofcheck.com
Tel #  +1-781-750-8068  Ext. 228