Programmer's ROM - The Computer Language Library/programmersrom.iso/ada/news/aic51.doc

Text File | 1988-05-03 | 17.5 KB | 372 lines

This is a copy of the April AdaIC
Newsletter 1987.

(AdaIC POC: Gregory Kee)


From the Director, AJPO

Dear Friends of Ada:

This edition of the Ada IC newsletter is especially meaningful
 for the Ada community because of two very significant milestones
that were recently achieved in the Ada program.

First, I am pleased to announce that Ada is now an  international
standard.   On March  12, 1987,  the Central  Secretariat of  the
International Standards  Organization (ISO)  announced  unanimous
approval  of  the  Draft  International  Standard  (DIS)  8652  -
Programming  Language  Ada.    The  standard  will  be  known  as
ISO/8652-1987 Programming Languages - Ada, and will be  published
as a  one  page  endorsement  of  the  American  and  French  Ada
standards, ANSI Standard 1815A-1983 and  AFNOR Standard NF Z  65-
700, respectively.

I would like to thank all  of those who initially contributed  to
the development  of ANSI/MIL-STD-1815A  and to  congratulate  all
those who  helped to  make its  endorsement as  an  international
standard a reality.

Second, I am pleased to announce that on Monday, March 30,  1987,
the Honorable William  H. Taft IV,  Deputy Secretary of  Defense,
signed DoD Directive (DODD) 3405.2 entitled "Use of Ada in Weapon
Systems".

This directive  applies to  all computers  that are  integral  to
weapon systems and  states that:   (1) Ada shall  be the  single,
common, high-order programming  language, effective  immediately;
(2) use of validated Ada compilers  is required; and (3) an  Ada-
based program design language shall be used during the  designing
of software.   This  directive also  requires DoD  Components  to
designate an Ada  executive official  and an  Ada waiver  control
officer, as well as to develop a comprehensive Ada implementation
plan that covers the transition  to and implementation of Ada  in
the Component.

A copy of DODD 3405.2 is  reproduced in its entirety on pages  10
through 12 and  is available  from Naval  Forms and  Publications
Center, 5801  Tabor Avenue,  Philadelphia, PA  19120.   This  new
Directive is also available on the Ada20 and AdaIC Bulletin Board
under the filename 3405-2.hlp.



Virginia L. Castor
Director
Ada Joint Program Office


ARTEWG Releases Documents on Ada Runtime Environments

The SIGAda Ada  Runtime Environments Working  Group (ARTEWG)  has
completed four documents related to runtime issues.  A  Canonical
Model and  Taxonomy  of  Ada Runtime  Environments  is  meant  to
explain the basic elements of Ada runtime environments (RTE).   A
historical perspective  on  runtime  environments  is  presented,
which  leads  into   a  description   of  a   model  of   runtime
environments.  A concise and consistent set of terms are proposed
to describe different elements of Ada runtime environments, and a
taxonomy for the runtime environment is presented.

The Catalogue  of  Ada  Runtime  Implementation  Dependencies  is
intended to identify all the areas in the Ada language definition
where Ada  implementations  have  flexibility.   The  ARTEWG  has
analyzed the Ada Reference Manual and other associated  documents
to find those areas  where the language  definition has left  the
implementation details up  to the Ada  compilers which  implement
them.    The  Reference  Manual  explicitly  calls  these   areas
"implementation dependencies",  which was  the term  used in  the
title of the Catalogue.

The Catalog of Interface Features and Options for the Ada Runtime
Environment was developed to propose and describe the first of  a
common set of user-runtime  environment interfaces, with which  a
programmer can both request  services of the runtime  environment
and tailor the RTE to meet application-specific requirements.

The  First  Annual   Survey  of   Mission  Critical   Application
Requirements addresses the issue  of categorization and  analysis
of  Ada  runtime  requirements  of  current  and  future  mission
critical    software    from an applications   oriented point  of
view. This document  contains the  results of  a detailed  survey
regarding  Ada   applications   as   they   relate   to   runtime
requirements.    In  addition,  in  order  to  help  the   reader
understand  the   background   from   which   these   application
requirements have come, a number of tutorials have been  included
on platform  related (e.g.,  Space Station,  Missiles, etc.)  and
application related (e.g., C3I, signal processing) areas.

To obtain  these  documents,  please  contact  Mr.  Mike  Kamrad,
Honeywell  Systems  and  Research  Center,  M/S  MN17-2351;  3660
Marshall St. NE; Minneapolis, MN  55418.

NATO  Special  Working   Group  on  APSE   Signs  Memorandum   of
Understanding

The Special Working Group on Ada Programming Support Environments
(SWG  on  APSE),  consisting  of  representatives  from   Canada,
Denmark, France,  Germany,  Italy,  Netherlands,  Norway,  Spain,
United Kingdom, and the United  States, have signed a  memorandum
of understanding  (MOU) which  describes cooperative  efforts  to
enhance  Ada  Programming  Support  Environments  (APSE).   These
efforts include    a) developing  and  demonstrating a  group  of
software tools  representative of  a  usable APSE  through  their
initial implementation  on  two distinct  computer  architectures
using an agreed  interface set, b)  developing methods and  tools
for the evaluation of APSEs and demonstrating this technology  on
the products resulting  from this effort,  and c) developing  the
requirements and  specifications  of an  interface  standard  for
APSEs, based on  reviews of existing  and evolutionary  interface
technology for APSEs, to be  recommended for adoption and use  by
NATO and the participating nations.

The APSE will  be implemented on  both a VAX/VMS  and an  IBM/MVS
system and will include  an Ada compiler, linker/loader,  command
language interpreter, symbolic  debugger, requirements  analyzer,
syntax directed editor version  control, lifecycle support  tool,
and library  management tool.  The schedule of task  deliverables
for this effort   calls for completion  of the implementation  of
the DOD-STD-1838-CAIS on  two architectures by  July, 1988.   The
completed application will be targeted to an  operational  weapon
systems computer (Motorola 68020),  and the APSE  implementations
will be evaluated in terms of their effect on the  development of
the weapons system  application through  two typical  operational
weapon system scenarios.  Evaluation of the  APSE implementations
is scheduled for completion in early 1990.


Ada Compiler Procedures and Guidelines  Document Available

The Ada Compiler Procedures and Guidelines Document announced  in
the  December  Newsletter  is  now  available  from  the  Defense
Technical Information Center  (DTIC) with accession  number AD  A
178 154.  In approximately 2 to 4 weeks the document will also be
available from the National Technical Information Service  (NTIS)
under the same  accession number.   It is also  available on  the
Ada20 and AdaIC Bulletin Board in the file VAL-PROC.HLP.

The document contains a  list of terms  and definitions that  are
crucial to the  understanding of  the validation  process.   This
document also addresses the  procedures for establishing an  AVF,
including performing validation  responsibilities, obtaining  and
maintaining an AVF charter, and  supporting periodic audits.   It
also addresses the  life cycle  development of  the Ada  Compiler
Validation  Capability  test  suite.    Finally,  this   document
provides guidelines to Service program managers on the use of Ada
compilers, without mandating  how to maintain  an Ada  compiler's
validation status throughout  the life cycle  of a program.

Ada Compilation System (ACS) Available

The  Data  &  Analysis  Center  for  Software  (DACS)  has   been
authorized by Rome  Air Development Center  (RADC) to  distribute
the U.S. Air  Force's "Ada  Compilation System (ACS)"  on a  cost
reimbursement basis to any  U.S. Government Agency. In  addition,
the ACS may  be distributed to  those individuals or  enterprises
certified and registered as qualified contractors in the  Defense
Logistics Services Center (DLSC) data base.

The  ACS  software  and  documentation  will  be  available   for
distribution by 1 May  1987. Contact Ms.  Nancy L. Sunderhaft  at
the DACS for an "ACS  Information Package." The package  contains
information on obtaining the ACS software and/or documentation.

Data & Analysis  Center for Software  RADC/COED Griffiss AFB,  NY
13441-5700 ATTN: ACS Compilation  System [phone] (AV)  587-
3395

A limited  number of  licenses for  the ACS  running on  the  MVS
operating system  are available  from Intermetrics.  Contact  Mr.
Donald L. Mark for information on obtaining an MVS version of the
ACS:

RomeAir Development Center Command & Control Software Engineering
Branch RADC/COEE Griffiss AFB,  NY 13441-5700 [phone]  (AV)
587-3655

Second Annual ASEET Symposium

The Second Annual ASEET Team meeting  will be held on June  9-11,
1987 in Dallas Texas. The purpose of the symposium is to  provide
a  forum  for  universities,  industry  and  government  training
agencies to sample Ada software education and training materials.
Attendees will also be given  the opportunity to share ideas  and
lessons learned with  other educators and  trainers. There is  no
registration fee for the symposium but all attendees who register
in advance will be guaranteed  copies of all handouts related  to
their chosen tracks. For further information, please contact:

Ms. Catherine  McDonald Institute  for Defense  Analyses 1801  N.
Beauregard Street Alexandria, VA 22311 [phone]


ACVC Version 1.9 Available

The ACVC  is  currently available  on  tape or  diskette.    ACVC
version 1.9  tapes are  available in two formats: ANSI  standard,
and VAX-BACKUP.   The ACVC version 1.9 in ANSI standard format is
being distributed in a  multifile format, and all file names  are
VAX-compatible.  To  obtain a   copy of the  ACVC, please  submit
your request in writing along with One  (1) new reel of 1/2-inch,
2400-ft magnetic tape to:

Mr. Steve Wilson
 Ada Validation Facility
 ASD/SIOL
 Wright-Patterson          AFB,           OH           45433-6503
[phone]

The ACVC is  also available on  diskette.  The  AVF is  currently
formatting diskettes with  nine sectors per  track using  MS-DOS.
These  diskettes are readable on the IBM PC-compatible  computers
running  under MS-DOS Version 2.1 or later.

To order  the ACVC  version  1.9 on  diskette, please  send  your
request  with 35 new DSDD diskettes to the AVF address above.

Each requestor of the ACVC  is automatically placed on a  mailing
list  to receive a list of withdrawn tests, which is  distributed
once a   month  if  changes have  occurred during  the  preceding
month.  The ACVC  release schedule is listed below:

Version    1 DEC-31 MAY 87    1 JUN 87-30 NOV 87
  1.8        Official               Expired
  1.9        Preliminary Release    Official
 1.10        Development            Development

Only one ACVC version will be used for formal validation  testing
per  year.  Each version will have a 12-month life beginning with
version  1.8.

Ada Compiler Evaluation Capability to be Developed

In January, 1987 a contract was awarded to Boeing to develop  the
Ada Compiler Evaluation Capability (ACEC), an organized suite  of
compiler  performance  tests   and  support   software  for   the
collection and analysis of performance statistics.  The Prototype
ACEC, released in January,  1986, consisted of performance  tests
which were already in the public domain and were collected by the
Institute for Defense Analysis, under an effort sponsored by  the
Ada Joint Program Office.  Boeing has a significant head start on
this effort since  it has already  developed 800 benchmark  tests
over the past three  years for its  internal test and  evaluation
needs.  Many of these test are being considered for inclusion  in
the first release of the ACEC, which will be provided for use  by
DoD in mid-1988.

Ada Validation Facility (AVF) Transferred

The Ada Validation Facility (AVF) that was previously located  at
General Services  Administration  (GSA)  has been  moved  to  the
National Bureau of Standards(NBS), Center 640, Software Standards
Validation Group,  Building  225, Room  A-266,  Gaithersburg,  MD
20899.   The  point  of  contact  remains  the  same:  L.  Arnold
Johnson;[phone].

Ada
?  ?   ?           Questions   &   Answers              ?   ?   ?
The following are a list of questions that are commonly asked  of
the AJPO and the AdaIC.

Dear AJPO:  How are issues regarding the Reference Manual for the
Ada Language dealt  with by the  Ada Board?   Are the results  of
Ada Board actions regarding such issues available to the  general
public?

Answer:   The  Language  Maintenance  Panel  (LMP),  a  committee
established by  the  Ada Board,  recommends  interpretations  and
possible   changes   to   the   ANSI/MIL-STD   for   Ada.   These
recommendations are passed to the Ada Board for consideration. If
approved by the Ada Board, the recommendations are passed to  the
Director AJPO for further processing. Official interpretations of
the ANSI/MIL-STD are only issued by the AJPO.

The LMP  deals only  with Ada  Commentaries, and  not  individual
comments per  se.  An  Ada Commentary  contains  all  information
relevant to the point addressed by a language comment,  including
any recommended action to  be taken on  the point, the  rationale
for the  recommendation, all  written  comments relevant  to  the
topic of  the  Commentary,  and a  history  of  the  Commentary's
processing.    These     commentaries    resolve     ambiguities,
contradictions, and other  small errors that  have been found  to
need correction.   Ada Language Commentaries  are accessible  via
the Ada Information Clearinghouse Bulletin Board.

Upon receiving a  comment on  the ANSI/MIL-STD for  Ada, the  LMP
gives it a provisional classification. If the comment pertains to
any existing  language commentaries  under consideration  by  the
LMP, the  comment  is  associated  with  them.  Otherwise  a  new
Commentary is created to  deal with (Continued  on Page 13)   the
new topic. Consideration  of a  Commentary is  complete when  the
Commentary  is  either  accepted,  rejected,  or  classified   as
requiring no further action.

The Ada  language  commentaries are  available  to users  of  the
Defense Data Network via the FTP utility from the directory <Ada-
Comment> on the Ada20  host.  The  commentaries are available  to
the general public on the Ada IC Bulletin Board in the  directory
3, Ada Language Commentaries (see instructions for accessing  our
Bulletin Board on page 13).  The files on the Bulletin Board  are
in a  compressed format using an archive program (ARC) which runs
on IBM PC's and compatibles under MS-DOS (version 2.0 or greater)
and can be downloaded as well.

Commentary files on the Ada20  have the name AI-dddd-cs.ss  where
cc indicates the  class of  the Commentary and  ss indicates  the
status of the Commentary.  On the AdaIC Bulletin Board, filenames
are of the form ddddcsss.arc, where cs and ss indicate class  and
status of the commentary.   A complete explanation of  procedures
for processing  language commentaries  is available  in the  file
LMP-PROCEDURES.BAR  in Ada20<Ada-Comment>, or LMP-PROC.ARC on the
AdaIC Bulletin Board.   An index of all  Commentaries is kept  in
the file AI-INDEX.TOC, which is  updated as new Commentaries  are
added or old Commentaries are  modified; the index indicates  the
class  and  status  of  the   Commentaries,  and  is  sorted   by
status/class and by section number of the Standard.

? ? ?

Dear AJPO:  Why is the bulletin board busy so often when I call?

Answer:   Since the bulletin  board was setup in August 1986,  we
have been getting  an increasing  number of  callers each  month.
For example, there was a peak of 33 calls  a day during the month
of  March.  The average calls  per day was 18.38 with an  average
call lasting 15 minutes.

The 10 most popular files that were downloaded were:

ADATODAY.HLP                                                  146
VAL-COMP.HLP                                                  134
ADA-CALR.HLP                                                  107
ADA-USE.HLP                                                    73
CONF-PRO.HLP                                                   69
IMPL-MAT.HLP                                                   67
CONTACTS.HLP                                                   64
ADA-DDN.HLP                                                    59
NEWSLTR.HLP                                                    58
DOCU-REF.HLP 56

Additional phone lines are  being looked at  to allow more  users
access to the bulletin board.

? ? ?

Dear AJPO:  How has the number of validated compilers grown since
1983?

Answer:  As  shown in  the table  below, their  were 3  validated
compilers at the end of 1983.   By the end of 1986 there were  74
and this number  is expected to  continue growing by  the end  of
1987.


Other files included in the newsletter:

The validated  compilers list  is available  from the  file  VAL-
COMP.HLP.

The Ada use  database survey  results are available  in the  file
ADA-USE.HLP.