Mindless Transitions!

[kmccook@LOGDIS1.WR.AFLC.AF.MIL (GS-09 Ken McCook;SCDD)]

There's been a great deal of talk about how much these mandates
affect gov't contractors, but more frightening to me is the storm
looming on the horizon which will soon envelop organic software
developers like me!

Managers from the top on down are in a headlong rush to comply
with the move to Ada like lemmings marching to the sea.  I can't
speak for all types of software, but for information systems
"Ada Only" is going to cause an incredible drop in productivity.

I am an Ada proponent. I recognized and agreed with all the benefits
when I was first introduced to the lady, however, as I learned more
I found that I and others like me all over the gov't didn't have the
skills to write info systems from scratch. So, we need tools to fill
the gaps. I'm lucky I am developing a PC system and found AdaSAGE
>from EG&G to plug the holes. My customers demand slick looking, easy 
to use, fast operating software. With just Ada alone I couldn't have
delivered what they expect. Neither could any of the 150-200 programmers
in our organization. All, save me, are still in denial.

I agree with Jean Ichbiah's statement that the lack of an acceptable
interface between Ada and SQL is the greatest impediment to the further
spread of Ada.  I also find the need to process data a screen at the time
rather than a field at the time. I know these things can be done because
AdaSAGE performs them wonderfully. So, someone is smart enough to write
these things in Ada, but the gov't hasn't seen fit to find or cultivate
the training necessary to bring us organic programmers to that level. The
only training were able to get is very basic and doesn't have anything to do 
with information systems programming.

Remember I'm a proponent, but if someone is going to mandate Ada then they
also need to take responsibility for making it possible to carry out
those mandates.

Ken McCook
Computer Systems Developer
Warner Robins Air Logistics Center
(DSN) 468-3224         Commercial  (912) 926-3224
Email kmccook@wrdis01.af.mil

P.S. I could always be just uninformed and sitting in the dark!