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=1.1 required=5.0 tests=BAYES_20,INVALID_DATE autolearn=no autolearn_force=no version=3.4.4 Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sdd.hp.com!usc!ucsd!ucbvax!LOGDIS1.WR.AFLC.AF.MIL!kmccook From: kmccook@LOGDIS1.WR.AFLC.AF.MIL (GS-09 Ken McCook;SCDD) Newsgroups: comp.lang.ada Subject: Mindless Transitions! Message-ID: <9012191446.AA10320@logdis1.wr.aflc.af.mil> Date: 18 Dec 90 13:16:20 GMT Sender: usenet@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU Organization: The Internet List-Id: 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!