cw (05/09/83)
Steve Scalpone, in a recent article here, seems to have a misconception about validation. NYU's Ada/ED is the first validated Ada compiler; it was validated by the organization set up by DoD for the purpose. In the process, it naturally passed all the ACVC tests. As it happens, passing the ACVC tests is necessary before one even applies for validation; the compiler then must pass them (possibly slightly modified) again and also be certified as reasonable. When you send in your validation application, you promise that you have successfully run all the tests. So Scalpone is wrong; the race is over and NYU has won. Of course, the real race is for a commerically viable validated compiler and ROLM claims to be in the lead. But who knows....... Charles