Actually, the joke rested on the fact that Ada is dogged by complexity
complaints, much like Oberon, which actually has a Native System, unlike
Ada. I do realise that Oberon and Ada are dissimilar, especially given their
direct origins (Wirth vs. DoD). Plus, having used Oberon, Ada & RavenSpark,
I actually realise the complaints against Ada, but poking fun was all that
this was meant to do.
By the way, I would suggest you to look up FOURTH, LITHP & C-- for
languagesist jokes... =) C-omega might even be another fun lookup
Cheers,
 -- Sztefan

On 7/18/06, Brantley Coile <brantley@coraid.com> wrote:
>
> > Well, Oberon Native's been around for years... =)
>
> I object to that callous remark on two grounds.
>
> The the Oberon system is the inspiration for acme, which, given this
> mailing list, gives it some sort of place of honor, and the Oberon
> language is as flexible as one can get in a small, strongly typed
> language.  C might even have evolved to meet Oberon in the middle of
> the language field, if it hadn't had pointer arithmetic.  That stopped
> it cold.  Not only do we now require function prototypes, we can even do
> typechecking of actual parameters against the format strings of print
> functions.
>
> In any event, suggestion that Ada and Oberon are in any way related in
> an insult.  Langues have feelings too. :)
>
> http://www.oberon.ethz.ch/oreport.html
>
> (Is there a category for Languageist jokes?  You know, like racist
> jokes only for programming langues?  ``There are three languages in a
> boat, FORTRAN, Pascal, and C.  FORTRAN says ...  '')
>
>


--
Lead thou me on, O Zeus, and Destiny,
To that goal long ago to me assigned.
I'll follow and not falter; if my will
Prove weak and craven, still I'll follow on.
-- Epictetus

He who enters his wife's dressing room is a philosopher or a fool. -- Balzac