CFCSEIC NEWS BRIEFS W/E 23 JAN 1998

CFCSEIC NEWS BRIEFS W/E 23 JAN 1998

[CSEIC]

Center for Computer Systems Engineering News Briefs
Week Ending:  January 23, 1998

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CONTENTS:
NEW PRODUCTS ON THE CFCSEIC WEB SITE
STC 1998 PROGRAMS
AGENCIES TACKLE THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF YEAR 2000 PROBLEM
MILLENNIUM BUG RESHAPES TOOL MARKET
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NEW PRODUCTS ON THE CFCSEIC WEB SITE 
Topic:  Software Engineering

The following items have been recently added to the CFCSEIC Web Site:  
http://sw-eng.falls-church.va.us

On the AdaIC Home Page:
 
1.  Ada95 versus C++ in Teaching Object-Oriented Software Engineering:

http://sw-eng.falls-church.va.us/AdaIC/ed-train/baa/UND-OOSE/   

Ada95, C++ and Supplementary course materials developed at the University 
of North Dakota, under DISA grant DCA100-96-1-0008 titled "Ada95 versus 
C++ in Teaching Object - Oriented Software Engineering".

2.  Withlist.pl  

http://sw-eng.falls-church.va.us/AdaIC/tools/withlist/

A freely available perl script that generates with-dependency lists for 
sets of Ada files. Requires Perl, Unix, and Ada files named by APEX or 
(unkrunched) GNAT convention.

The following links have been added to the Y2K-IC Home Page:

1.  Federal Year 2000 Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS) Product Database

http://y2k.policyworks.gov/
                     
A centralized repository of information to all Federal Agencies which 
will speed the research and investigation of products being done by each 
agency. 

2.  Commercial Off-The Shelf (COTS) Software
    
http://www.monmouth.army.mil/y2k/cots.htm (note:  document is 598K)

A list compiled by the U.S. Army and organized by software name, version, 
Y2K compliant, what's needed to get Y2K compliant, information source, 
and comments. 

SOURCE:  CFCSEIC

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STC 1998 PROGRAMS
Topic:  Software Engineering

The programs for the 10th Annual Software Technology Conference (STC), 
being held 19-23 April 1998 at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt 
Lake City, UT, are in the mail.  If you haven't received one and would 
like to, contact one of the following:

Ms. Dana Dovenbarger, mailto:dovenbar@oodis01.hill.af.mil
Ms. Lynne Wade, mailto:wadel@software.hill.af.mil
Tel:  801/777-7411
Fax:  801/775-4932
http://www.stc98.org

SOURCE:  10th Annual Software Technology Conference 1998 Program.

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AGENCIES TACKLE THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF YEAR 2000 PROBLEM
Topic:  Y2K

Federal Computer Weeks' Nicole Lewis examines what steps Federal Agencies 
are taking to solve the Y2K Challenge.  Among the most challenging 
problems facing Agencies are data interfaces, shortages of software 
programmers and a lack of contingency plans if systems do not properly 
operate after they are put back into service.  The uncertain outlooks and 
costs involved are also examined.  For more information, visit:  
http://www.fcw.com.

SOURCE:  Nicole Lewis, "Agencies tackle nuts and bolts of Year 2000 
problem", Federal Computer Week, Jan., 19, 1998, v12, n2, pp. 30-33.

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MILLENNIUM BUG RESHAPES TOOL MARKET
Topic:  Y2K

Year 2000 Tools have expanded beyond Cobol.  They now address many more 
platforms and languages and more often come in integrated packages.  
Brian Robinson examines the issues behind this proliferation, and the 
increasingly complex user requirements needed for testing, in the January 
19, 1998 issue of Federal Computer Week.

The outlook for the growing Y2K urgency is uncertain, with agencies being 
forced to take a "triage" approach towards systems testing - the most 
critical systems getting tested first, and other systems getting tested 
time and funding allowed.

SOURCE:  Brian Robinson, "Millennium bug reshapes tool market", Federal 
Computer Week, Jan. 19, 1998, v12, n2, pp. 34-35.  http://www.fcw.com   

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The DISA CFCSEIC welcomes suggestions for and pointers to software 
engineering-related articles.  

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