Legislative Mandate for Ada

[mfeldman@seas.gwu.edu (Michael Feldman)]

In article <378.276807d8@vger.nsu.edu# g_harrison@vger.nsu.edu writes:
## 
## "Ada Programming Language - The Department of Defense developed Ada to
#...... loop put("bla blah"); end loop;
#
#This seems to be pure psyco-babble.  It sounds like a memo from a Dean (My dean
#doesn't read this [I PRAY]!).  The statement sould say "Use it [Ada] or loose 
#it [Contract]."

Actually it sounds like the words of a few Ada evangelists I have known :-)
As much as I like Ada, I get put off by this kind of blather as much as you
do. I thought the missionaries had packed up and gone home, but I guess not...
#
#"Cost Effective" is a wonderful generalization to mean almost anything
#including "My FORTRAN programmers will claim permanent disability and expect
#workman's comp."  or "Ada is TOO BIG for my machine. [read "Ada is too complex
#for my programmers."].  If I get flamed, then so be it!  I just feel that

No flames from here. I'm sure we'll all have fun reading tea-leaves about
what Congress thought it meant by "where cost effective." That's why I
posted it. I'm glad it stirred the kettle up. That was the idea.
#
#Any good programmer can learn to use Ada in the way it was designed.  

Yup. Couldn't agree more.
#
## This is what is known as "legislative history." It is not formally
## part of the law but gives insight into the mindset of the lawmakers
## (or their staff people, really). Have fun with it.
#
#I did have fun with it, Mike.  Thanks.  
#
Pleasure's mine. Glad to have brightened your day.

Mike Feldman