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A glossary of common Ada/Linux terms and defintions.
AARM The Annotated Ada Reference Manual contains the entire text of the Ada 95 standard (ISO/IEC 8652:1995(E)), plus various annotations. It is intended primarily for compiler writers, validation test writers, and other language lawyers. The annotations include detailed rationale for individual rules and explanations of some of the more arcane interactions among the rules.
ACT Ada Core Technologies, an offshoot of New York University, developer of GNAT and the original code for GCC Ada. Provides commerical support for GNAT / GCC Ada
Ada 0X the working title of Ada 2005 before the language was completed.
Ada 9X the working title of Ada 95 before the language was completed.
ASIS The Ada Semantic Interface Specification is a layered vendor-independent open architecture. ASIS queries and services provide a consistent interface to information within the Ada compilation environment.
Distribution In Linux, a software bundle containing the Linux Kernel, X Windows and user software to create a complete system, assembled and supported by a third-party. e.g. Debian Linux, Red Hat Linux, etc.
Dynamic Polymorphism Polymorphism implemented at run-time using a "tag" to determine the type of item; tagged records, objects.
GCC Ada Free Ada support in the GNU Compiler Collection (GCC), a standard language starting with GCC 3.0.
GMGPL GNAT-Modified GPL. An extension of the GNU Public Licence 2 that also covers Ada generics (that is, templates) under the license.
GNAT GNU New York University Ada Translator. This refers to either the original version of GCC Ada that ran on a custom version of GCC (GNAT/GPL), or the modern commerical version of GCC Ada supplied by ACT (GNATPro).
GNAT/GCC Alias for GCC Ada.
GNAT/GPL Term used to describe the original GNAT, as opposed to the commercial versions.
GNAT Pro Commercial version of GCC Ada supplied by ACT.
Inheritance Creating new items containing an original item's features without changing the original item.
Kernel The core of the operating system, controlling devices, scheduling resources and providing security. e.g. the Linux kernel
libc The standard C function library (e.g. printf).
libgnat see RTL.
LRM is the abbreviated name of the Language Reference Manual, sometimes called Ada Reference Manual. "LRM" was often used in the days of Ada 83; "RM" or "rm95"
Multiple Inheritance Creating new items from two or more original item's features without changing the original item.
Polymorphism A means of factoring out differences amongst a collection of items so that programs may be written in terms of the common features.
RM see LRM.
RM95 see LRM.
RTL GCC Ada Run-Time Library, libgnat. Contains all standard packages (e.g. Text_IO) as well as support functions required to run an Ada program (exception handling, etc.)
Syscall System call. A kernel function call, as opposed to a function call to a library.
Static Polymorphism Polymorphism implemented at compile-time; generics.
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