DoD Ada 95 Policy

DoD Ada 95 Policy

[Jim Vijay]

Sorry if this is old hat for cla readers.  But it is an important aspect
of Ada 95 usage in DoD.  So here goes.

What is the DoD policy wrt Ada 95 and projects that are already under
contract to use Mil-Std-1815A (Ada 83)?  Would it be a violation of the
contract if the contractor decided to use Ada 95?  Does it hinge on
whether the compiler is fully validated?  If so, this might preclude near
term use of Ada 95.  Which would be a shame since our project - mission
planning software - has to interface with a C core in a Unix environment,
provide an X-windows compatible graphical user interface, and interface
with a COTS relational database.  The OO and mixed language features of
Ada 95 would certainly be a boost to productivity here.

I have been informed that the Hon. Emmett Paige Jr, Asst. Sec. of Defense
(C3I), has issued a memo dated 9 March 1994 that addresses this issue. Is
the text of this memo available on the net?

I realize that contract modification is one hope.  But the Govt moves in
mysterious (and mostly slow) ways.  So it would be nice to know of an easy
out.

Thanks -- Jim Vijay

Re: DoD Ada 95 Policy

[Tucker Taft]

Jim Vijay (vijay@nawc690.chinalake.navy.mil) wrote:
: ...
: What is the DoD policy wrt Ada 95 and projects that are already under
: contract to use Mil-Std-1815A (Ada 83)?  ...

: I have been informed that the Hon. Emmett Paige Jr, Asst. Sec. of Defense
: (C3I), has issued a memo dated 9 March 1994 that addresses this issue. Is
: the text of this memo available on the net?

Here are a few tidbits from the Memo:

   "... To facilitate transition to this new stndard, use of Ada 9X prior to
    final approval of the standard and/or availability of validated
    Ada 9X compilers is encouraged for programs described below.

        Unvalidated Ada 9X compilers may be used for:
    - Research and developement programs (6.1, 6.2, and 6.3A appropriations),
    - Proof of concept prototypes, so long as any subsequent system is
      delivered using validated Ada 9X compilers, and
    - System development programs, so long as the systems are delivered
      using validated Ada 9X compilers, in accordance with the validation
      procedures issued by the Ada Joint Program Office.

    ... The decison by program managers to use unvalidated Ada 9X compilers
    incurs risk that must be managed accordingly.  Where early use of Ada 9X
    is not pursued, Ada 83 (ANSI/MIL-STD-1815A) is required in accordance
    with current policy.

The full text is included in the June 1994 issue of the Ada IC Newsletter, 
among other places.  For an electronic copy, you might hunt around on
the Ada IC machine, sw-eng.falls-church.va.us, in public/adaic/...

: I realize that contract modification is one hope.  But the Govt moves in
: mysterious (and mostly slow) ways.  So it would be nice to know of an easy
: out.

It looks like most DoD programs can start using Ada 95 compilers, so long
as they are willing to take on and manage the increased risk, and so long
as they will deliver with a validated Ada 95 compiler.

: Thanks -- Jim Vijay

-Tucker Taft   stt@inmet.com
Intermetrics, Inc.

Re: DoD Ada 95 Policy

[Garlington KE]

Tucker Taft (stt@spock.camb.inmet.com) wrote:
: It looks like most DoD programs can start using Ada 95 compilers, so long
: as they are willing to take on and manage the increased risk, and so long
: as they will deliver with a validated Ada 95 compiler.

This is true. However, if your contract explicitly calls out MIL-STD-1815
(as the F-22 contract doesn, for example), you still have to do something
contract-wise to use Ada 95, either a spec change or a spec waiver of some
type, Paige's memo was guidance to the services; it doesn't override the
language of your contract.

Also, there's not a lot of guidance out there right now on what it means to
"manage the increased risk," so this is something you have to work with your
customer.

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Ken Garlington                  GarlingtonKE@lfwc.lockheed.com
F-22 Computer Resources         Lockheed Fort Worth Co.

If LFWC or the F-22 program has any opinions, they aren't telling me.