From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 3.4.4 (2020-01-24) on polar.synack.me X-Spam-Level: X-Spam-Status: No, score=-1.3 required=5.0 tests=BAYES_00,INVALID_MSGID autolearn=no autolearn_force=no version=3.4.4 X-Google-Language: ENGLISH,ASCII-7-bit X-Google-Thread: 103376,4c9aaf040659caf8 X-Google-Attributes: gid103376,public From: demer@hc17031.hcsd.ca (David Emery) Subject: Re: (unverified) Ada mandate cancelled (Greg A would be proud) Date: 1997/03/12 Message-ID: #1/1 X-Deja-AN: 225073295 Sender: demer@hc17031.hcsd.ca References: <3.0.32.19970307192557.009979a0@iu.net> Organization: HCSD Newsgroups: comp.lang.ada Date: 1997-03-12T00:00:00+00:00 List-Id: Part of the problem with any (relatively arbitrary) DoD policy is that it's not worth the paper it's printed on if it's not enforced. The Ada Mandate was never adequately enforced. (I know of an instance where it was possible to identify the LtCol who explicitly decided to disobey the policy, knowing that this violated DoD policy and also provisions of the then-current Defense Appropriations Act. Several investigations/studies identified this individual as the source of the decision, and also clearly identified that this individual knew he was violating policies/laws etc. But nothing was ever done about it.) Without enforcement, an "Ada preference" policy won't be worth anything, either. The USAF policy was quite good about how a SPO/PM had to build his/her business case for an Ada waiver. This was ignored; SPOs never bothered to ask for waivers. As a part-time soldier, I'm disgusted with how easy it is for the SPOs/PMs and their staffs to knowingly disobey policies, directives, etc. Remember that the SPO that makes this kind of decision is rarely around when the resulting system is delivered, and almost never around when the system goes into serious maintenance. He's either promoted or retired... (One of the most common reasons I've heard is "Why, if Ada is so good, doesn't Microsoft use it." When you ask if the SPO/PM is willing to wait for Version 3.1 of SDI to get it to work right, you get no answer...) In my opinion, the NRC study should have considered the DoD track record for obeying existing policies while recommending changes to same. If we couldn't follow the old policy, why change it? dave -- Note: if email to me bounces, use 'emery@grebyn.com'