STARS Boeing embarassed about Ada

STARS Boeing embarassed about Ada

[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

Re: STARS Boeing embarassed about Ada

[crispen]

Greg Arahonian says:

>   Why is Will Hodges so embarassed to have Boeing be associated with Ada?
>All these words in print, not once is Ada mentioned.

Greg, Greg, Greg.  It's hard to know where to begin.  First of all, you
talk of "metaprogramming".  It's "megaprogramming".  Second, you talk
about "Will" Hodges.  It's Bill.

Third, I'm sure Bill will be speaking for himself in this forum very
soon, so consider my words below as a postscript and a personal
reaction, not an official STARS or Boeing reaction.

But to say in your message header that Boeing is "embarassed" about
Ada, and to infer from the nonappearance in print of words plugging
Ada that Boeing (quoting you again) is one of these contractors who
"dis the Ada language" is so far out there as to be almost actionable
if it weren't so laughably stupid.

For goodness sakes, take a Quaalude, Greg.  Either that, or show
up at some of the industry conferences and listen to what Boeing people
say in our papers and in our presentations.  You and I have corresponded
by private email in the past, and you knew I worked on the STARS
program.  Didn't it occur to you to get the facts before you
started shooting off your mouth?

Once again, I don't speak for the company, but I have said and written
so many words in praise of Ada, and have used Ada as such an integral
part of everything I do in the architectural and reuse fields, that
I feel like I've paid my dues, thank you, and I don't need your
approval.

But I won't put up with your characterization by inference of my work
as either ignoring or dissing Ada.

And take this with you: just what the heck do you think is *in*
the repository?
+-------------------------------+--------------------------------------+
| Bob Crispen                   |   Who will babysit the babysitters?  |
| crispen@foxy.boeing.com       +--------------------------------------+
| (205) 461-3296                |Opinions expressed here are mine alone|
+-------------------------------+--------------------------------------+

Re: STARS Boeing embarassed about Ada

[Robert I. Eachus]

In article <SRCTRAN.93Jun20111418@world.std.com> srctran@world.std.com (Gregory
 Aharonian) writes:

  >    But I also recognize that I see little to nothing of this outside the
  > Mandated World, and given Ada virtual non-existence outside the Mandated
  > World, it needs all of the exposure it can get, exposure that most come
  > from the Mandated World.

    Greg, give it a rest.  Boeing probably spends more money buying
and building Ada software for its commercial aircraft than anyone
other than the Federal government...  It's not Boeing job to sell
their competitors on the advantages of switching to Ada.  However,
everyone trying to compete with Boeing in the commercial long-haul
business is either switching to Ada or seriously considering it.

--

					Robert I. Eachus

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