Re: Programming vs. Software Engineering

[rsd@sei.cmu.edu (Richard S D'Ippolito)]

Sorry to pick on this one, but it's representative:

In article <5723@odin.corp.sgi.com> Archer Sully writes:

 >You still haven't shown (and never will show, at this rate) that Ada is
 >not only sufficient but necessary for producing good code, which appears
 >to be your stated aim.
 >
 >Archer Sully

I'm a bit more than tired of this -- the current discussions have turned
these groups into sandboxes, and the flying stuff is irritating my eyes.

I would suggest that those who insist on comparing their pails by color take
the exchange off line or to alt.lang.wars.  My sometimes-clouded mind has
concluded, possibly due to a malfunction, that comp.lang.ada exists for the
discussion of any Ada-related issue, from its place in software engineering,
to its effect on the procurement process, to its compilers, to its
successful uses, etc., and is mainly of interest to those who are trying
their best to produce quality software for the USDoD.

Those of you who wish to point out that Ada is imperfect are only confirming
what man has already learned about the artifacts of man.  You are cheerfully
invited to submit your suggestions to the Ada 9X committee.  Anyone who
attended the 89 TRI-Ada conference had the opportunity to hear Robert Firth
warn that there would be no language perfection in our lifetimes and to hear
him urge us to get on with the job.

Those of you who share my delusion that Ada and Software Engineering are not
one and the same are invited to share your experiences in comp.software-eng
with those of us who are trying to bring software development up to the
level of engineering that now exists in the many traditional engineering
disciplines.  Is not there much more than the art (or science, to the extent
that it is one) of crafting code?

Several times in the past year, I and members of our group have published
pointers to papers describing our experiences in using Ada for real efforts
and describing our methods.  That we have received no responses leads me
to conclude, again, maybe erroneously, that there are only two types of
reader here -- those who already know the benefits of Ada and those who are
not receptive to information which might undermine cherished language and
practice beliefs.

We were hoping to hear from the uncommitted, and from those who could help
us improve the state of the practice by reviewing our efforts and by relating
theirs.


Rich D'Ippolito
Software Architectures Engineering Project
SEI, Pittsburgh


PS: I have left the reference to atl.cobol in the distribution in order that
that related followups be directed to the appropriate one of the other two
groups.  I do not subscribe to it.
-- 
How do you know how I can see lessen you kin look out my eyes?
Hoke, in _Driving Miss Daisy_				 rsd@sei.cmu.edu
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