Re: DARPA admits Ada gets in the way

[black@seismo.css.gov (Mike Black)]

In article <1992Sep18.184122.8984@ads.com> ckaun@ADS.COM (Carl Kaun) writes:
>Bottom line: I don't believe DoD is suppressing discussion, I would
>hate to have others think that it is unless there is other evidence
>for it.  I do not address the issue of whether DoD policy concerning
>Ada use has been premature, excessive, or heavy-handed.  That is a
>different issue than the "suppressing discussion" issue.
>
>---------------------------------------------------------------------
>      Carl F. Kaun       ckaun@ads.com        415/960-7420
>---------------------------------------------------------------------

After 20 years in the USAF I can attest to the fact that discussion
at the WORKER level is not suppressed.  However, at the management
level and in the public forum it most definitely is suppressed.
Any comments an individual makes in the public forum are cleared
and (most assuredly) must be deamed politically correct before
released.  

I also understand DARPA's position.  I also worked in research and
development for the last 11 years and appreciate their thought
that they shouldn't be restricted to ANYTHING!!  One doesn't
advanance technology using yesterday's tools.  I went thru a 
period when the Ada manadate was first created when our software
shop said EVERYTHING was going to be developed in Ada with full
mil standards applied (they never heard of tailoring specifications).
They didn't seem to understand about leveraging R&D dollars by
allowing contractor-format-acceptable performance clauses.  In our
R&D work we didn't care what language/hardware/whatever the contractor
wanted to use as long they proposed a technically sound program.

P.S. DARPA is not the only DOD organization that does research.
Basic research and R&D dollars are spread throughout DOD at many
of the laboratories.


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