Re: Ada gcc compiler for ia64-hp-openvms <<< perhaps second, there are been mailing isuse

[gérard Calliet <gerard dot calliet at pia-sofer dot fr>]

Hello,

Actually, this port is a survival initiative. I was part of a VMS port 
from Alpha to Itanium, which was finally launched... the month Adacore 
decided to stop its support.

I had long negociations with Quentin Ochem in France, hoping to get the 
Adacore compiler even without support, and the answer has been no. 
Because this involved a crash of our  port project, I took the 
initiative of 'doing something'. Quentin Ochem introduced Adalabs to me 
and I took the risk of rebuilding from sources the compiler. In less 
than six months Adalabs has been able to do the job. Choice of gcc 4.7 
has been a technology choice to go forward as quickly as possible.

My deal with the final customer was: you pay the fees you'd payed to  
Adacore, and we guaranty your perimeter. So we did the rebuild with 2 
contracts support investment. It's not good business, it's just survival 
kit. I don't know how all others Gnat Pro VMS users will survive, but 
I'm opened on any negociation with Adacore to help them, if Adacore 
helps transfering revenue of their support to help making my survival 
kits survive.

I unsderstand Adacore could think about VMS ecosystem for Ada as not 
good business. It could be very different for a very little company like 
mine, specialized for decades on VMS and involved in VMS renewal from 
VSI (VMS Software International). My understanding of the AdaCore 
initiative is it has been finding a way to keep Ada alive, so we share 
the same values, and I can help the VMS Ada segment survive.

Anything can be imagined, why not, as you said, to do some github push 
of the port realized with the help of AdaLabs? why not ending the absurd 
situation of rebuilding a compiler which already exists, and building 
together a partnership -with no cost for Adacore, but some interests for us?

Anyway - and it is the answer about support - my company (pia-sofer) has 
definitivly decided to maintain an Ada compiler for VMS. Today I pushed 
on internet our survival kit: www.vmsadaall.org. Its life will depend on 
number of adopters, friendly recommandations, and for sure, fruits from 
this discution.

Because I'm a little bit new in the Ada ecosystem, I took contacts in 
France with french experts who, if necessary, I will be able to call for 
help for support (http://www.adalog.fr Jean-Pierre Rosen is The ada 
French expert) and Novasys (http://www.novasys-ingenierie.com about 40 
Ada experienced software experts).

Best regards,

Gérard Calliet, pia-sofer ceo

www.pia-sofer.com

+33 670 716 179


Le 16/05/2017 à 09:29, Arnaud Charlet a écrit :
> Also I forgot to mention: I would recommend putting your GCC 4.7 based
> port on e.g. github so that other people can benefit from it, since putting
> this code base in gcc.gnu.org isn't on the table as per David's emails. I
> think that would be the best compromise.
>
> Arno


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