Re: Ada lives?

[Michael Feldman <mfeldman@seas.gwu.edu>]

Tucker Taft wrote:

> Chris wrote:
> >
> > Can anyone point me to any recent analyses (or facts even ;-) that indicate
> > the current trends in the usage of Ada.  The sort of information I'm after
> > is...
> >
> > - Is the use of Ada increasing or decreasing?
>
> It seems to be growing slowly but steadily, with a shift occurring toward
> commercial use.
>
> > - How much Ada is used on new projects?
>
> It depends on the market.  In safety-critical systems, Ada is
> a major player.  In desktop applications, Ada is a negligent
> player.
>
> [snip]
>
> --
> -Tucker Taft   stt@averstar.com   http://www.averstar.com/~stt/
> Technical Director, Distributed IT Solutions  (www.averstar.com/tools)
> AverStar (formerly Intermetrics, Inc.)   Burlington, MA  USA

RE: the safety-critical software domain. Ada is a very important
player in the growing domain of Communication-Based Train
Control (CBTC), everywhere from the TGV and Channel Tunnel
to metropolitan rail systems all over the world.

An especially interesting site on CBTC is

http://www.tsd.org/communic

which is updated almost daily with interesting info. For U.S.
readers, the most interesting point there is the likelihood that
an Ada-based software system will be chosen by New York
City Transit for its subway automation.  Rumors are flying
that Siemens/Matra will be selected to produce this system,
which is based on the Meteor software in Paris on the fully-
automated Line 14. This line has just passed its first anniversary
in service, and is carrying well upwards of 100,000 passengers
daily with very few (if any) technical problems.

A final decision by the New York state authorities is expected
tomorrow, Nov. 22. Check out the above site now to see the
conjecture, and tomorrow or Tuesday to see the result. If, as
expected, Matra is chosen, the New York subways will be
running on Ada very soon.

The CBTC site has links to many cities' projects; if you see
Matra's SACEM or PA135 mentioned as the control system,
you will know there's "Ada inside." (I've had this confirmed
by people close to the company.)

Mike Feldman