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From: "Marc A. Criley" <marc.a.criley@lmco.com>
Subject: Re: why use "task"?
Date: 1998/08/12
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References: <35C9F862.5942A291@imap4.asu.edu>
 <slrn6t0gl6.7ei.franke@pax10f.mipool.uni-jena.de>
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Date: 1998-08-12T00:00:00+00:00
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Frank Ecke wrote:
> 
> On Thu, 06 Aug 1998 11:39:30, Te-Cheng, Shen <techeng@imap4.asu.edu> wrote:
> 
> >Hi:
> >    What is "task" used for? I know how to use it but dont know when we
> >will use it? Can anyone give me a " real example?" It means we will use
> >it
> >in reality, not just for demostrating.
> >
> >Thanks in advance
> >
> >Shen
> >
> >
> 
> A task is Ada's concept of expressing concurrency within a program.  Tasks are
> entities that execute in parallel.  Each task represents a separate thread of
> control and runs independently between the points where it interacts with other
> tasks.
>    Examples of using tasks are applications requiring the use of concurreny:
> large and complex systems (which are inherently concurrent), such as avionics
> systems, industry controlling systems, robots, spacecrafts, databases, missile
> control facilities, and so forth.  Additionally, if you wish to exploit multi-

Re: missile control facilities.  As a specific example, the Advanced
Tomahawk
Weapon Control System (ATWCS) makes extensive use of tasking (this is in
the
ship's onboard weapon command and control system, not the missile itself). 
When
ATWCS is at its maximum load, there are literally over a thousand active
tasks.

> processor hardware, tasks are a suitable means to do so.
>    In essence, tasks allow you to cope with what is known as multitasking or
> multithreading.
> 
>    From my point of view, the powerful tasking concept incorporated into Ada
> adds to the beauty of the language.

Tasking provided an excellent fit to the entities within the ATWCS system,
making a clean, clear design and implementation possible.

> 
> Regards,
> 
> Frank

-- 
Marc A. Criley
Chief Software Architect
Lockheed Martin ATWCS
marc.a.criley@lmco.com
Phone: (610) 354-7861
Fax  : (610) 354-7308