STARS and Software Reuse

STARS and Software Reuse

[RCONN]

	I had the pleasure of attending the recent STARS Common Ada
Foundations Workshop, sponsored by the STARS JPO and IDA.  A lot of useful
information was presented in this packed, one-day workshop, and key among
it is that STARS is really interested in encouraging softwawre reuse.  The
recent BAA is an example, in which organizations making proposals are
really encouraged to reuse the software in the ASR as much as they can.
Several presentations pointed to applicable materials in the ASR.
	I believe that the government wants to ultimately encourage reuse,
but I also believe that this will not happen overnight.  Decisions have to
be made at the top, directives issued, the services (Army, Navy, Air
Force) have to respond to these directives and issue their own regulations,
and then the Program Offices will react, interpret the regulations, and
implement reuse clauses in their contracts.  It will take time.
	I feel that the AJPO's education initiative, which includes the
education of Congressional personnel, Pentagon officials, and other top
government leaders is an excellent move to promote understanding at the
upper levels and generate support for changes such as directives to
promote reusability.
	But all of this will take time.  In the meantime, we also have the
other side of the house -- the contractors who are in it to make money.
While software reuse may mean a savings to the government, it may
also mean a loss of revenues to the contractors (and a corresponding
empire reduction).  Yet another problem.

		Rick
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