From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 3.4.4 (2020-01-24) on polar.synack.me X-Spam-Level: X-Spam-Status: No, score=-0.8 required=5.0 tests=BAYES_00,INVALID_DATE autolearn=no autolearn_force=no version=3.4.4 X-Google-Language: ENGLISH,ASCII-7-bit X-Google-Thread: 103376,1ba8c21ddfbe0b1e X-Google-Attributes: gid103376,public X-Google-ArrivalTime: 1995-01-05 10:08:20 PST Path: nntp.gmd.de!Germany.EU.net!howland.reston.ans.net!usc!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!delphi.cs.ucla.edu!not-for-mail From: jmartin@oahu.cs.ucla.edu (Jay Martin) Newsgroups: comp.lang.ada Subject: Re: "Subtract C, add Ada" Date: 5 Jan 1995 10:08:20 -0800 Organization: UCLA Computer Science Dept. Message-ID: <3ehcik$lc0@oahu.cs.ucla.edu> References: <3eft29$ee2@felix.seas.gwu.edu> NNTP-Posting-Host: oahu.cs.ucla.edu X-Newsreader: NN version 6.5.0.b3.0 #8 (NOV) Date: 1995-01-05T10:08:20-08:00 List-Id: mfeldman@seas.gwu.edu (Michael Feldman) writes: >In article , >Jay M. Martin wrote: >> >>Why doesn't he publish his results? Such data points need to be >>collected in journals even though they may not be overwhelming >>evidence by themselves. With enough data points "facts" about >>the efficiency of different methods of software development can >>be derived. Unfortunately, I have never seen the Computer Science >>community do this . Jay >Actually, he published it twice. One paper was in TRI-Ada '91, which >got the Best Paper award in that conference; the other was in Communications >of the ACM, in the Ada section of the November 1992 issue. >You really ought to check your facts before making these generalizations. >Maybe _ask_ first whether John published anything on this. He's also >discussed it in numerous panels in both SIGCSE and SIGAda circles. >Mike Feldman I read the abstracts to these papers before I posted, there is not one peep about the relative efficiency between C and Ada which should be the central topic of discussion in my opinion. Here are the abs: 1. CONFERENCE PAPER McCormick, J.W. Using a model railroad to teach Ada and software engineering. IN: TRI-Ada '91 Proceedings. (TRI-Ada '91 Proceedings, San Jose, CA, USA, 21-25 Oct. 1991). New York, NY, USA: ACM, 1991. p. 511-14. Pub type: Practical. Abstract: This paper describes a successful course for teaching the development of Ada software systems. A computer controlled model railroad provides realistic small problems that give students experience with Ada's unique aspects and larger problems that require software engineering skills. 3. McCormick, J.W. A model railroad for Ada and software engineering. Communications of the ACM, Nov. 1992, vol.35, (no.11):68-70. Pub type: Practical. Abstract: The Computer Science Department at SUNY Plattsburgh has developed a study option in computer controlled systems. This study option was created especially for undergraduate students interested in the engineering of embedded and real-time software systems. Besides the core courses required in all study options, students in the computer controlled systems study option takes courses in physics (including electronics), additional courses in continuous mathematics and a selection of upper division computer science courses. The capstone course in the computer controlled systems option is real-time systems. As part of the real-time systems course, students work in teams to develop Ada software to control a model railroad. The computer-controlled model railroad is a successful tool for teaching the development of Ada software systems to undergraduate students. Because of their interest in writing software to control trains, students are highly motivated to learn Ada. The railroad is an excellent platform for demonstrating Ada's capabilities. In particular, Ada's tasking, exception handling and hardware-dependent features are utilized frequently by students writing railroad control software. 5. CONFERENCE PAPER McCormick, J.W. A laboratory for teaching the development of real-time software systems. (22nd SIGCSE Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education, San Antonio, TX, USA, 7-8 March 1991). SIGCSE Bulletin, March 1991, vol.23, (no.1):260-4. Pub type: Practical. Abstract: A major problem with teaching real-time software development to undergraduate students is finding suitable equipment for assignments and projects. Such equipment must provide problems that are exciting, challenging, cover a broad range of real-time topics, and yet have solutions that can be completed within the time constraints of the semester. The paper describes a successful laboratory for an undergraduate course in real-time software development based on a computer controlled model railroad. Where is C sucks! Ada rules! I reiterate, I have never seen (recent) a study done by Computer Science Researchers on the relative efficiency of software tools. Jay