Computer Systems Engineering News Briefs

Computer Systems Engineering News Briefs

[Don Rosen]

Computer Systems Engineering News Briefs
Week Ending:  August 15, 1997

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APPLYING SOFTWARE PRODUCT-LINE ARCHITECTURE
Topic: Reuse

Abstract: Software product-line architecture is a powerful way to
control
the risks and take advantage of the opportunities of complex customer
requirements, business constraints, and technology, but its success
depends
on more than technical excellence, organizational issues are critical. 
A
DARPA-funded case study conducted by Applied Expertise at Nortel
(Northern
Telecom) tested six organizational principles for software architecture
success: Vision, Partnering, Simplification, Future, Rhythm, and Risk.
The
article examines these principles to gain insight into how they are
applied
and how they contribute to success.

SOURCE: Dikel, D., Kane, D., et al., "Applying Software Product-Line
Architecture," Computer, Vol. 30, No. 8, August 1997.
<http://computer.org/computer/co1997/r8049abs.htm>

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GCCS COMPLETELY REPLACES WWMCCS
Topic: DII, COE

The Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) has officially
discontinued
the last portion of the Worldwide Military Command and Control System
(WWMCCS).  DISA shut down the WWMCCS Top Secret Support System and
replaced
it with the Global Command and Control System-T.

Although DISA shifted to GCCS from WWMCCS last year, it continued to
operate
the top secret component of WWMCCS until recently.

GCCS, which is in use in at more that 500 DOD sites, is a
state-of-the-art
command and control system that provides a detailed picture of the
battlefield situational awareness.

SOURCE:  Gregory Slabodkin,  "Briefing Book", Government Computer News,
August 4, 1997, v16, n22, p 63.

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WATCH YOUR LANGUAGE!
Topic:  Ada

In the latest issue of DOC Magazine, Mr. Ed Seidewitz discusses the
importance of choosing the right programming language, and how the Ada
generic facility and the C++ template facility fit into this dynamic. 
The
author writes that while the C++ Standard Template Library provides
powerful features to the individual programmer, Ada generics provide a
powerful system-structuring capability for software engineers.

Mr. Seidewitz concludes that, by virtue of its generics, Ada 95 is now a
player in the world of distributed object systems, and as Ada 95 is used
in
more projects, its true potential will then be realized.

SOURCE:  Seidewitz, Ed, "Watch Your Language!", Distributed Object
Computing (DOC), July 1997, v1, n6, pp. 50-51.  http://www.ondoc.com;
mailto:seidewitz@dhr.com.

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COE DOCUMENTS AVAILABLE ON CSEIC WEB SITE
Topic: DII

The Computer Systems Engineering Information Clearinghouse (CSEIC) has
numerous Common Operating Environment (COE) documents available in HTML
format on the CSEIC Web site.  In addition, a search utility has been
developed allowing users to perform a keyword search on one or all
documents.  This will serve as a valuable reference for anyone
interested in learning more about the COE.
The database can be found on the CSEIC Web site at:

http://sw-eng.falls-church.va.us/coe/docs

In addition to the HTML versions of the COE documents, links to MSWord
and
.pdf versions have also been included.

SOURCE:  CSEIC

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The Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) Computer Systems 
Engineering Information Clearinghouse (CSEIC) "Computer Systems 
Engineering News Briefs" is a compilation of summaries from software 
engineering-related articles in trade magazines, newsletters and press 
releases. The DISA CSEIC welcomes suggestions for and pointers to 
software engineering-related articles.  

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