Re: Ada's Slide To Oblivion ...

[Jerry Petrey <"jdpetrey<NOSPAM>"@west.raytheon.com>]

Richard Riehle wrote:
> 
> "Christopher A. Bohn" wrote:
> 
> > But the company opted for C++ because there were more C++ programmers than
> > Ada programmers in the market, so they'd have a larger pool of talent to
> > consider when making hiring decisions.
> 
> This kind of stupidity is all too common among DoD contractors.   Usually it
> is
> made by people who don't understand Ada, or don't understand C++, or both. For
> 
> me, the more I learn about C++, the more horrified I am that anyone would
> seriously consider using it for weapon systems software, or any other kind of
> software where safety is a factor.   Clearly, Jack Gansle understands this
> issue
> pretty well.  For the others, I guess ignorance is bliss.
> 
> Richard Riehle


How true Richard.  Here at Raytheon Missile Systems, all our new missile
software is going to C++.  The managers listen to the young engineers who
only know or want to work with C++. There are a few older program like the one
I'm on that uses Ada (thank goodness).  Most of these were started by ex-C
programmers and it is amazing how much like C their Ada code is.
I keep fighting for more Ada usage but I keep getting those same old
arguments - the tools are more expensive, Ada is dead and won't be supported
in the future, C++ programmers are easier to get, ... ad nauseam.
Yet they keep stressing how important it is that these missiles work
right every time - it is a frustrating battle to make them understand.
I applaud your efforts at Adaworks in teaching Ada.  This is want companies
need - some in-depth courses that train software engineers to think in Ada
not just translate C code to Ada.  I hope it has an impact on Ada's future.

Jerry

-- 
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-- Jerry Petrey                                                
-- Senior Principal Systems Engineer - Navigation, Guidance, & Control
-- Raytheon Missile Systems          - Member Team Ada & Team Forth
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