Reserve Demobilization System Built Around Reused Ada Code

[karl@grebyn.com (Karl A. Nyberg)]

From Government Computer News, May 13, 1991, p. 63.

The theory that Ada programming will get chaper as the Defense Department
cashes in on the language's potential for reuse apparently has proved true
for at least one Army system.

Lt. Gen Jerome Hilmes, director of information systems for command, control,
communications and computers, said Army programmers were able to design a
900,000-line demobilization system in 30 days for about $500,000.  The quick
programming turnaround was possible because about 800,000 lines of the Ada
code were borrowed from previously designed systems, he said.

The Army will use the new system as it deactivates more than 200,000
reservists called up to support the Persian Gulf war.  The system, which
automates the Army's standard discharge for for the first time, runs on AT&T
Co. 3B2 minicomputers at seven locations.

Hilmes said the system will reduce by a factor of two the time it takes to
send a reservist back to civilian life.  It was designed as part of the
Army's continuing Installation Support Module program.

Under ISM, the Army has standardized about eight servicewide functions
performed at Army bases worldwide.  So far, ISM officials "overall are
getting about 56 percent reuse of the code they generate", he said.

Hilmes spoke at a recent Armed Forces Communications and Electronics
Association budget symposium in Arlington, VA.