Re: federal requirements to use ada

[dog.ee.lbl.gov!network.ucsd.edu!mvb.saic.com!eafbvax!eafbtems!martin@ucbv]

In article <1992Jan14.143616.13899@aio.jsc.nasa.gov>, cobarruvias@asd2.jsc.nasa
.gov (COBARRUVIAS_JOHN) writes:
> In article <841613t.695391198@aucs>, 841613t@aucs.acadiau.ca (Donald Tyzuk) w
rites...
>>Could someone clarify for me what requirements have been established
>>by the U.S. government (or any other govt) to use Ada?
> 
> Looks like some congressman got a law to pass that mandates Ada for all DOD
> projects.......unless it proves to be non-cost effective, or if there is a
> good reason not to. Sounds like a pretty solid law to me. 
> 

The Defense Authorization bill (It might have been the Defense Appropriations
bill, I saw both cited in print) of 1991 contained a provision that requires
that all DOD software development use the Ada programming language unless it is
not "economically feasible" to do so.  The law did not define "economically
feasible" and it did not contain contain any enforcement provisions according
to the press reports I saw at the time (almost 15 months ago).  However, the
Air Force already had a policy in effect (as June 1990) that provides
essentially the same criteria.  Exceptions (require no approval) are allowed
for single user type software, software with a lifecycle of less than three
years, and software for which the government will have no maintenance
responsibility.  Waivers (approved at the Secretary of the Air Force level) and
Exemptions (approved at the Headquarters, Air Force level) are allowed for in
those circumstances where there is a legitimate need to use a language other
than Ada.  I don't know if the other services have instituted policies of their
own yet or not.  An interesting side note is that Policy Letters such as this
one are supposed to be superceded by formal regulations within 90 days, but as
of yet this one has not become a formal reg.  
 
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Gary S. Martin                !  (805)277-4509  DSN 527-4509
6510th Test Wing/TSWS         !  Martin@Edwards-TEMS.af.mil
Edwards AFB, CA 93523-5000    ! 
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