Re: History of Ada - and about the NYU DOS version

[<adaworks@sbcglobal.net>]

"anon" <anon@anon.org> wrote in message 
news:kHAzi.457562$p47.69518@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
>
> The last version of the "Walnul Creek Ada" was in 1999. Because in
> 1998 the DOD close, "The Ada Joint Program Office". The DOD decided
> to use more cheaper versions of computer languages, such as C.  This
> also means that the "Walnul Creek Ada" 1999 pack was not certified
> by the DOD.
>
The DoD did not decide to use cheaper languages such as C.   This incorrect
assessment of Mr. Paige's (then Assistant Secretary of Defense) memo lifting
the Ada mandate has been widely disseminated.   Rather, Mr. Paige opened
the door to the use of other languages so Ada would compete on its merits
instead of on a strict policy level.

In Mr. Paige's memo, he even cited Ada's success along with his belief that,
since Ada had proven to be a valuable tool for DoD software, it was now able
to stand on its own in the competitive environment of programming language
choice.

Mr. Paige expressed the hope that Ada would continue to be used for vital
DoD software.

Many in the DoD and elsewhere misinterpreted Mr. Paige's memo lifting the
Ada mandate.  Unfortunately, this misinterpretation is now so widespread that
many DoD personnel are of the opinion that Ada has been "forbidden" for
military software.  Somehow, the simple lifting of the mandate has gone through
a series of stages:  Ada is no longer required;  Ada is no longer supported 
(closing
of the AJPO); Ada is no longer to be used;  Ada is now forbidden.

The reality is that Mr. Paige, and his original DoD memo, foresaw Ada as
continuing to serve the needs of military software far into the future, but more
as one of a set of options than as the sole [mandated] option.

Ada continues to be used for DoD software systems, though not as widely as
it once was, primarily due to the misinterpretation of Mr. Paige's memo.

Richard Riehle