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Date: 9 Jul 91 18:40:29 GMT
From: world!srctran@uunet.uu.net  (Gregory Aharonian)
Subject: SOMEONE!$%#%#!%#%@ fund Jovial to Ada anything
Message-ID: <SRCTRAN.91Jul9134029@world.std.com>
List-Id: <comp.lang.ada>

    I run a business partly known for knowing something about converting codes
across languages in a semi-quasi-pseudo-automatic way. About once a month for
the last few years (with bursts around RFPs), I get phone calls asking about
Jovial to Ada translators. For people who don't do, this is an obscene idea,
but for the managers and software engineers that call, this is a real problem
affecting their Ada transition efforts.
    To my knowledge, there are no cost-effective Jovial to Ada translators
available, at least in the 100% complete translation. There are rumors of
80%+ translators, but even so, what is usually left from such translators
to be processed manually costs as much as redoing everything.
    According to my estimates, and two tech reports, a useful tool for these
people would cost a few hundred thousand dollars. None of the contractors who
have contacted me, individually or jointly, seem willing to put up the money
to have such a tool developed. I've contacted the Language Control Facility
and they don't seem to know of anyone inside the Air Force willing to put up
the money.
    I figure that there is at least 5 million lines of Jovial that people will
be converting to Ada now and over the rest of the decade, at an enormous cost
without an standard tool. And as disgusting as people claim translators or
convertors are, a few good language specialists could put together a tool that
helps as much as possible.
    I've received enough phone calls to know there is enough of a demand to
make this worthwhile for the AJPO to fund someone to do something, but
probably not enough demand for a company to develop a product. If anyone on
the net has a good suggestion on what to do, I've got plenty of names of
people who will be your best friend.

Gregory Aharonian
Source Translation & Optimization