The Return of Ada

Pickens writes "Today when most people refer to Ada it's usually as a cautionary tale. The Defense Department commissioned the programming language in the late 1970s but few programmers used Ada, claiming it was difficult to use. Nonetheless many observers believe the basics of Ada are in place for wider use. Ada's stringency causes more work for programmers, but it will also make the code more secure, Ada enthusiasts say. Last fall, contractor Lockheed Martin delivered an update to ERAM, the Federal Aviation Administration's next-generation flight data air traffic control system — ahead of schedule and under budget, which is something you don't often hear about in government circles. Jeff O'Leary, an FAA software development and acquisition manager who oversaw ERAM, attributed at least part of it to the use of the Ada, used for about half the code in the system."

Stringency==Secure

[Zordak]

Ada's stringency causes more work for programmers, but it will also make the code more secure, Ada enthusiasts say.

So... you're saying I should ideally program my firewall in INTERCAL?

You scared me for moment there

[BigGar']

That was my aunt's name and she passed away many years ago.

I was running out the door with my zombie survival guide & bug out bag heading for my arctic hideout to escape the impending invasion and I noticed out of the corner of my eye a reference to programming.

Thank god, Aunt Ada was a tad weird when she was alive, I really didn't want to meet zombie Ada.

Re:I clicked too early...

[eclectro]

... i thought this story's title read, "the return of ABBA."

ABBA was an early 80's rockband. ADA was an early 80's programming language. ABBA is seeing a resurgence in interest now. ADA is also seeing increased in interest now. ABBA consisted of four singers, and ADA consisted of four programming languages.

Coincidence? I too think not. Take a chance on it.

Hurray!

[Zarf]

I worked in Ada for a few years. I guess I better go and dust off my books.

And, here I spent all that time learning Java. Sheesh.

inevitably

[fred fleenblat]

I think the main issue that people are afraid to talk about here is that Ada will soon be replaced by a language based entirely on cat macros.

Re:Skill and not language used?

[naasking]

Let's imagine a language so obscure and difficult, that 90% of working programmers cannot gain sufficient mastery of it to understand what it is saying at first glance.

Wouldn't work. C++ is just such a language for example, but this provides no such barrier to poor programmers and poor code! ;-)

Re:I used ada....

[LoofWaffle]

You're right. An XML parser is infinitely more useful than say an early warning radar, which are largely coded in Ada.

Re:I used ada....

[HeroreV]

I don't think many applications are going to find much use for early warning radar.