kmccook@LOGDIS1.WR.AFLC.AF.MIL (GS-09 Ken McCook;SCDD) (12/18/90)
There's been a great deal of talk about how much these mandates
affect gov't contractors, but more frightening to me is the storm
looming on the horizon which will soon envelop organic software
developers like me!
Managers from the top on down are in a headlong rush to comply
with the move to Ada like lemmings marching to the sea. I can't
speak for all types of software, but for information systems
"Ada Only" is going to cause an incredible drop in productivity.
I am an Ada proponent. I recognized and agreed with all the benefits
when I was first introduced to the lady, however, as I learned more
I found that I and others like me all over the gov't didn't have the
skills to write info systems from scratch. So, we need tools to fill
the gaps. I'm lucky I am developing a PC system and found AdaSAGE
>from EG&G to plug the holes. My customers demand slick looking, easy
to use, fast operating software. With just Ada alone I couldn't have
delivered what they expect. Neither could any of the 150-200 programmers
in our organization. All, save me, are still in denial.
I agree with Jean Ichbiah's statement that the lack of an acceptable
interface between Ada and SQL is the greatest impediment to the further
spread of Ada. I also find the need to process data a screen at the time
rather than a field at the time. I know these things can be done because
AdaSAGE performs them wonderfully. So, someone is smart enough to write
these things in Ada, but the gov't hasn't seen fit to find or cultivate
the training necessary to bring us organic programmers to that level. The
only training were able to get is very basic and doesn't have anything to do
with information systems programming.
Remember I'm a proponent, but if someone is going to mandate Ada then they
also need to take responsibility for making it possible to carry out
those mandates.
Ken McCook
Computer Systems Developer
Warner Robins Air Logistics Center
(DSN) 468-3224 Commercial (912) 926-3224
Email kmccook@wrdis01.af.mil
P.S. I could always be just uninformed and sitting in the dark!bwb@sei.cmu.edu (Bruce Benson) (12/21/90)
In article <9012191446.AA10320@logdis1.wr.aflc.af.mil> kmccook@LOGDIS1.WR.AFLC.AF.MIL (GS-09 Ken McCook;SCDD) writes: <good stuff deleted> >"Ada Only" is going to cause an incredible drop in productivity. This is normal and expected in any change of any real significants. The problem is that most managers don't realize and don't plan for this. I also wonder if people who sign these mandates get any estimates of productivity loss, schedule impacts, decrease of quality, etc., etc. This is usually called a cost estimate. <more good stuff deleted> If we transitioned pilots to new aircraft the way we transition programmers to new technology, we wouldn't have very many pilots left. * Bruce Benson + Internet - bwb@sei.cmu.edu + + * Software Engineering Institute + Compuserv - 76226,3407 + >--|> * Carnegie Mellon University + Voice - 412 268 8469 + + * Pittsburgh PA 15213-3890 + + US Air Force
west@widgit.enet.dec.com (Jim West (Stealth Contractor)) (01/01/91)
My specialty and interests are with the X Window System and graphics. I too
am a proponent of Ada, but for the last 6 years I've done graphic work with
both Ada and C (as of late) and I don't believe that Ada should be doing
graphics at this time. C is much more proficient at it. One of the main
reasons I say this is that all graphic systems are not re-entrant which means
you basically can't use them from tasks. Another is that systems such as
X Window, and PHIGS are implemented in C and are generally expected to be
used from same. I find that programmers tend to create a chest full of
convenience routines that essentially try to convert the C stuff (like
pointers) into Ada defined structures. I really believe that more work
is going on than should be done. My main concern with this is for mission
critical applications, generally you want code that is _both_ fast and
efficient.
I know that there is considerable work being done with Ada and X but it
still has a way to go.
Having been on a couple of projects (DoD) with workstations being the
interface and having Ada mandated has caused some problems. I have found
that productivity levels for the development of these interfaces just
really are not up to par.
As I mentioned above, I am a proponent of Ada, and will continue to do
work with X and PHIGS because I enjoy the challenge, but I don't believe
that Ada should be mandated blindly.
Well, I'm stepping off the soap box now so that someone else may have
a turn. :^)
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Jim West | The Schainker Converse
west@widgit.enet.dec.com | to Hoare's Law :
|
These are my opinions. | Inside every small problem
Digital has no idea | is a larger problem struggling
what I'm saying. | to get out.
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