Re: Joint Strike Fighter

[Richard Riehle <richard@adaworks.com>]

Ian wrote:

> Richard Riehle <richard@adaworks.com> wrote in message news:<3BDCE159.39F6D422@adaworks.com>...
> > Now that LMCO has been awarded the contract for
> > JSF, does anyone know if the original plan to do the
> > software in Ada remains unchanged?
> >
> [trawl?]

This may have seemed like a "trawl" but it was just an inquiry based on
earlier information.

> I doubt this plan got very far. The current LMCO plan is to reuse most
> of the X-35 work in this new SDD phase. C++ code will be produced in 3
> phases over 10.5 years. This is being amended for a 2008 introduction.
> The size estimate is 4 to 6 M SLOC.

C++. It is really sad when a system that requires high reliability and
dependability ends of being programmed in a language as brittle and
error-prone as C++.

> Where C++ will be rejected for certification reasons in flight
> critical boxes I expect Ada will be used.

That's somewhat comforting.

> Either the theory that Ada has superior economics over the whole
> life-cycle process is wrong or somebody goofed up. It would be
> speculation to say who did. LMCO for getting their fingers burnt with
> Ada83 on the F-22, DoD pushing Faster, Cheaper, Better; or too many
> people demanding to be able to write C++.

Economics over dependability?   I know there are a lot of really bright
software professionals at LMCO, most of them, in fact.   The decision
to use C++ no doubt has justification that we will never understand,
especially those of us who know both Ada and C++ pretty well.  I
guess economics, in the long run, is an important factor. It is a little
disappointing to see Ada eased out of yet another major DoD
application -- and just as we are noticing an increase in interest
in Ada among some of our better trained military officers.

These things occur in cycles, I suppose.  Recently, I noticed a project
that is purported to be starting-up with Jovial as the intended implementation
language.   Of course, Jovial has an excellent track record for weapon
systems design, so that makes some sense.

Richard Riehle