STARS Boeing embarassed about Ada

[world!srctran@uunet.uu.net (Gregory Aharonian)]

   Here's another example of Ada contractors doing their best to avoid
helping to foster Ada in the non-Mandated world.  Why they are embarassed
to be associated with Ada is beyond me, and should not be tolerated as
long as the people are on the taxpayer dole.

  Case in point.  The June 1993 issue of Software Magazine has a nice
article on the importance of software repositories, and the rebirth of
the repository marketplace.  As usual, all of the language references are
to C/C++ and Smalltalk, reinforcing to the non-Mandated world the success
of these languages.

    ANyways, Boeing's role in the STARS program is mentioned.  Here are
some quotes:

	Boeing Computer Services has been using Digital's STARS
	CDD/Repository in it work on the STARS project.  STARS'
	goal is the improvement of the software procurement/development
	process at the Department of Defense (DoD).  The DoD's ARPA
	is sponsoring the STARS project. According to William Hodges,
	STARS program manager for Boeing, the goal was to "build
	software faster, cheaper, and better".
	Boeing realized that this goal required a repository-based
	environment.  When the project first began, Boeing was going 
	to build its own repository.  However, in 1990, the company
	decided to go with CDD/Repository because of its integrated
	suite of tools.
	[.. some stuff about Boeing's SEE and DEC's CDD with regards
	to OO encapsulation, process tools, and model design]
	The STARS project needed the repository to support resuability.
	The project is based on the concept of metaprogramming
	(architecture-based reuse).  "We cannot live without a
	repository, Hodges said, explaining that SEE was incomplete
	without it.
	For example, Boeing uses the repository to model system
	requirements, and the repository automatically provides
	version control and easily supports requirements reusability,
	said Hodges.  "Documentation becomes a synthesis issue
	rather than a creation issue", he remarked.  Boeing 
	intends to have the SEE available for evaluation on a DoD
	project by October.

==============================================================================

   Why is Will Hodges so embarassed to have Boeing be associated with Ada?
All these words in print, not once is Ada mentioned.  Given Ada's near
death in the non-Mandated world, any opportunity to plug the language
should be seized by those receving taxdollars to say the love the language.
And if this country has to be reduced to ordering these STARS contractors
to promote the Ada language when they get the chance, than we are in deep
trouble.

    That the DoD allows its Ada contractors to dis the Ada language is
inexcusable.  Will someone please email Will and tell him that Ada is
spelled "A" "d" "a".
-- 
**************************************************************************
 Greg Aharonian
 Source Translation & Optimization
 P.O. Box 404, Belmont, MA 02178