Re: Ada's Slide To Oblivion ...

[Richard Riehle <richard@adaworks.com>]

"Warren W. Gay VE3WWG" wrote:

> I understand it, the language is still considered on a project by
> project basis. I cannot see them acceptiong anything but Ada for
> weapons or flight systems. Or has this really changed?

Unfortunately, it has changed for many DoD contractors.   I have
been told that, even though Ada might be a better language,  the
programmers don't want to hire on if they have to do Ada.  They
would rather do C++ because it is better for their career.   So,
just as the DoD capitulated when the whiners complained about
not wanting to "eat their broccoli,"  the contractors have capitulated
because programmers demand to use what they perceive as a
more mainstream language.    Superiority of the language is a
minor point, hardly considered at all anymore.

Imagine a surgeon who discovers how much money can be saved
by purchasing Xacto blades instead of using blades manufactured
to more stringent standards.   That is exactly the situation we are
currently facing when contractors decide to use C or C++ instead
of Ada.   On the surface one gets the same result.  It is only that
superficial result that counts for the lowest bidder.

Richard Riehle