Re: How far with Ada??

[Roy Grimm <ragrimm@collins.rockwell.com>]

Shaun Owen wrote:
> 
> Hi, I'm studying Elec Eng and we have been using Ada95 (on a unix server)
> extensively for learning programming and computer science.
> A subject I'm doing now is called Data Structures and it is all done in
> Ada.

It's good to hear that your college is using a superior language for
teaching the concepts of software development. :)

> I was wondering, with a firm background in Ada, is it worth doing extra and
> learning more and more advanced techniques in Ada?.

Of course.  With the large need for software people in various
industries these days, any student who has studied advanced topics (such
as embedded systems design, tasking, real-time systems) will be that
much more attractive.  From a purely mercinary point of view, you'll
certainly see the salaries in your job offers increase if you can say
"I've done some tasking in my studies".

> The underlying question
> here is what does the future hold for Ada? I've seen a post in this news
> group
> about an aircraft sim manufacturer asking for advice on whether to use C++
> OR Ada95. Is it really a language for THIS day and age? Being a member of
> a defence force I understand it's use for this organisation, but what sort
> of future
> does it hold for Industry??
> 
> Appreciate incitive comments from anyone...
> 
> :-)

I would say that in certain industries, Ada is here for the long haul. 
I'm working in the avionics industry, where we have to pay particular
attention to every iota of every aspect of what we do or the FAA says
"no you can't put that computer on an airplane".  IMNSHO, Ada is a far
superior language for developing safety critical real-time embedded
systems than any other language, and it's going to stay that way for a
good long time.  As for other industries, it's hard to tell.  (mostly
because I don't have too much exposure to them.)

For a graduating engineering student who is interested in the software
development field, you should make yoursef familiar with the high level
topics of systems design.  I would study multitasking and real-time
software development.  To a certain extent, the ideas you will learn can
translate between languages (some better than others).  If you learn Ada
tasking, you can apply some of the fundamentals of that to other
multitasking systems.  The details will be different but the big picture
won't change much.  So long as you can understand the big picture, you
should be able to work out those details in (almost) any modern
language.

Ada will never go away.  There's already too much invested in it to have
it fade out.  Besides, it is a fantastic language for what it was
designed for and continues to do an excelent job.  I'd bet that it will
never dominate the industry like C/C++ has.  It just doesn't have enough
appeal for it to really take over.

I would also recommend that you study at least a little C/C++ and Java
and at least touch on their advanced topics too.  There are hundreds
upon thousands of companies that only do C/C++ programming.  To make
yourself appeal to the masses, learn the tools they use.

To sum it up:  Learn the advanced topics in Ada but learn other
languages too, to keep yourself diverse enough for employers to take an
interest in you.

-- 
Voicing my own opinion, not speaking as a company representative.

Roy A. Grimm
Rockwell Collins Avionics
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
ragrimm@cca.rockwell.no.spam.com
    (remove the no.spam. to get my real address)