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ASR Newsletter, Issue 1, April 1986 Ada (tm) Software Repository (ASR) Newsletter Issue 1, April 1986 Richard Conn, Newsletter Editor Published by Echelon, Inc. THIS ISSUE Page I. ADA SOFTWARE REPOSITORY STATEMENT OF OPERATION 1 II. GENERAL INFORMATION 1 A. How to Find Things B. Electronic Mailing List C. Tape Distribution III. NEWS ITEMS CONCERNING THE ADA SOFTWARE REPOSITORY 3 A. This Newsletter B. New Documents from Echelon C. WIS/NOSC Ada Tools Documents D. Talks Scheduled E. Tape Distribution Problems and Solutions IV. NEW SUBMISSIONS IN MARCH 4 V. HIGHLIGHTS OF SELECTED SUBMISSIONS 8 ============================================================================== I. ADA SOFTWARE REPOSITORY STATEMENT OF OPERATION The Ada Software Repository (ASR) is maintained on the SIMTEL20 host computer, a DEC-20 mainframe running the TOPS-20 operating system. SIMTEL20 is located at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico and can be accessed through the Defense Data Network (DDN). The ASR, founded in November, 1984, was conceived of and is operated by Richard Conn. Frank Wancho, the sponsor of the ASR, provides technical support and runs the tape copy service. The Ada Software Repository, Richard's work, and the tape copy service are unfunded activities. The disk on which the ASR is sharing space with other collections of software is funded by the Logistics System Support Activity (LSSA), an Army Materiel Command (AMC, formerly DARCOM) activity. LSSA provided the funds for a disk drive to support the UNIX/C collection for the AMC community. The ASR resides on SIMTEL20 because space is available on the LSSA-funded disk drive. SIMTEL20 is owned and operated by the Computer Systems Directorate at White Sands Missile Range (WSMR), which is an Installation/Field Operating Activity (I/FOA) under the Test and Evaluation Command (TECOM) at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland. TECOM is a major subordinate command under AMC, and AMC is a major command under the Department of the Army. Richard Conn is self-employed and is working on the Ada Software Repository on a voluntary, unfunded basis. Frank Wancho is employed by WSMR. The Ada Software Repository is not associated with the Ada Joint Program Office. All software, documentation, and other items of information in the Ada Software Repository are in the public domain. ============================================================================== II. GENERAL INFORMATION A. HOW TO FIND THINGS IN THE ADA SOFTWARE REPOSITORY ON SIMTEL20 The contents of the ASR can be reviewed in several ways: 1. DIRECTORY DISPLAYS. The FTP (the DDN File Transfer Protocol) program (available in various versions on every DDN host computer) can provide users with a directory display of all files in any of the archives in the ASR. See the following files for more information: Page 1 ASR Newsletter, Issue 1, April 1986 PD:<ADA.GENERAL>ADAREPOS.DOC general info on repository contents PD:<ADA.GENERAL>00READ.ME archive structures PD:<ADA.GENERAL>FTP.DOC introduction to FTP and file transfer PD:<ADA.GENERAL>UUCP-BIT.DOC accessing via UUCP and BITNET 2. ONLINE DOCUMENTATION SYSTEM. The directory PD:<ADA.ONLINE-DOC> contains the source code (in Ada), the instructions, and the data base for the online documentation system. Users can copy these files over to their host computers via FTP, compile the programs, and then run the programs to query the data base. Information on each directory in the ASR is available in the data base. This information includes a description of the directory, a listing of its contents with file sizes, and descriptions of each program and piece of software in the directory. The data base should be copied from time to time as the ASR grows. 3. PROLOGUE FILES. Each piece of software has an associated PROLOGUE file of type PRO (eg, SAFEIO.PRO) which contains the ASR standard header. See the file PD:<ADA.GENERAL>PROLOGUE.DOC for more information. 4. GENERAL. The files in PD:<ADA.GENERAL> contain information on what is in the ASR, how to access and use the ASR, and other items of interest. B. ELECTRONIC MAILING LIST An electronic mailing list exists for those who are interested in accessing and contributing software to the ASR. To subscribe to the ASR email list (ADA-SW), send a request via electronic mail to: ADA-SW-REQUEST@SIMTEL20 After a user has been entered into the repository's mailing list, he will receive a welcome message which includes introductory information on how to access the repository and how to use FTP to copy files from the repository to his DDN host computer. The mailing list serves two purposes: to provide an information exchange medium between the repository users and to mail repository submissions to the maintainer of the Ada Software Repository for his approval and action. PS:<ARCHIVES.ADA-SW>ADA-SW-ARCHIV.TXT contains all recent messages passed over the ADA-SW mailing list. New users on the list are invited to get a copy of this file and scan it for background; older users may use it for reference. In either case, this is a BIG file! PS:<ARCHIVES.ADA-SW>ADA-SW.ARCHIVE.ymmdd contains older messages by year/month. C. ADA SOFTWARE REPOSITORY AVAILABLE ON TAPE Tape copies of the files in PD:<ADA.*> on 9 Track, 1600 BPI tapes in TOPS-20 DUMPER, TOPS-10 INTERCHANGE, and UNIX TAR formats are available. Send a tape, a stamped, self-addressed mailing label, and a short, informal cover letter stating that you would like a copy of this collection and specifying the format. The tape will be made at the convenience of the personnel at White Sands and mailed back to you. There is no charge for this service. White Sands cannot accept cash, checks, money orders, or purchase orders. Send sufficient return postage in stamps. Use the following address: Commander, US Army White Sands Missile Range STEWS-IM-CM-S (Bldg. 362, Frank Wancho) White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico 88002-5072 DDN electronic mail address is WANCHO@SIMTEL20. The telephone number for Frank Wancho is 505/678-6257. Page 2 ASR Newsletter, Issue 1, April 1986 ============================================================================== III. NEWS ITEMS CONCERNING THE ADA SOFTWARE REPOSITORY A. THIS NEWSLETTER. This newsletter has been created in an effort to meet the needs of the growing community of users who wish to access the Ada Software Repository. Many of our users do not have direct access to the Defense Data Network, so they cannot access the files in the repository directly. Also, some members of the user community may find the hardcopy format to be more convenient than an FTP transfer. This hardcopy newsletter is provided as an alternative to the Ada Software Repository user, and copies of all newsletters are maintained as files in the NEWSLETTER subdirectory of the repository itself for those who do not wish to purchase the hardcopy newsletter service. B. NEW DOCUMENTS FROM ECHELON. Echelon will be publishing a series of documents from information available in the Ada Software Repository. The first of these, a User's Handbook which contains practical information on how to access the repository, is now being prepared and will be announced in a future issue of this newsletter. C. WIS/NOSC ADA TOOLS DOCUMENTS. The online documentation support tools on SIMTEL20 have been extended to create the CONTENTS.DOC and ABSTRACT.DOC files in the PD:<ADA.WIS-ADA-TOOLS> subdirectory. CONTENTS contains a listing of all WIS/NOSC tools given to the repository in numerical order. The tool number, the name of the tool, and a listing of all files required to compile the tool are presented. ABSTRACT contains the same information as CONTENTS with the addition of a brief abstract on each tool. D. TALKS ON THE ADA SOFTWARE REPOSITORY. Richard Conn, the maintainer of the Ada Software Repository, will be giving presentations on the Ada Software Repository as indicated below. These presentations will cover the current status of the Ada Software Repository, some information on the Defense Data Network, and plans for growth of the Ada Software Repository. There will be time for individual questions and discussions before and after each presentation: 1. 11th Annual Trenton Computer Festival, Saturday, April 19. This festival, oriented to microcomputer enthusiasts, is sponsored by Trenton State College, the Amateur Computer Group of New Jersey, the Philadelphia Area Computer Society, the Trenton State College Computer Society, the Central Jersey Computer Club, the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers/ACM Princeton Section, and the New York Amateur Computer Club. Attendance is not restricted. General admission charge is $7 for two days. For more information, contact: Ms. Marilyn Hughes Department of Electronics Engineering Technology Trenton State College Hillwood Lakes CN 550 Trenton, NJ 08625-0550 (609) 771-2487 2. The Air Force Institute of Technology, Thursday, May 29. This presentation is given as a part of an Ada course which is presented to the faculty of the Electrical Engineering Department and funded by the Air Force Institute of Technology and the Air Force Office of Scientific Research. Attendance is restricted to military and civilian personnel at Wright- Patterson Air Force Base. There is no admission charge. For more information, contact: Page 3 ASR Newsletter, Issue 1, April 1986 Lt Col Harold Carter, PhD Department of Electrical Engineering Air Force Institute of Technology AFIT/ENG Bldg 640 Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH 45433 (513) 255-6913 hcarter@AFIT-AB -- electronic mail is preferred 3. A third presentation is now being planned at NASA Johnson Spacecraft Center, Houston. It is to be funded by the Space Station Program. Details will be released when available. E. TAPE DISTRIBUTION PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS. The tape distribution of software from White Sands has been going well with the UNIX TAR, TOPS-20 DUMPER, and TOPS-10 INTERCHANGE tape formats. There have been problems with the creation of ANSI tapes, and White Sands has withdrawn the offer to create ANSI tapes. In the meantime, White Sands is holding over forty (40) requests for tape copies of the Ada Software Repository in ANSI format. DEC has received an SPR (Software Performance Report) on 18 March from White Sands, and resolution of this SPR should correct the ANSI tape creation problems and allow these requests to be satisfied. White Sands may then reissue its offer to make ANSI tapes. Many of the ANSI tape requests have come from VAX/VMS users. An alternative exists. From a message sent by Frank Wancho on 30 March: "We are still sitting on in excess of 40 requests for tape copies of the Ada collection in ANSI format, awaiting resolution of an SPR which DEC has acknowledged as having received on 18 Mar." "In a previous message, I mentioned the free availability of the Integration Tools tape from DEC, which contains several tools claimed to allow you to read TOPS-20 DUMPER format tapes under the VAX/VMS operating system. The following is an extract from an article in Large Systems News, Vol.8, No.5, March/April 1986 which provides more details." "Those of you who have already sent us tapes requesting ANSI format may now wish to change to TOPS-20 DUMPER format. Send me a message if you wish to change your request." ============================================================================== IV. NEW SUBMISSIONS IN MARCH ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1. DAMES DBMS Interface Files and Sizes (in Bytes): PD:<ADA.ADA-SQL> DAMES.CMM 833 RAPPABS.DOC 3647 .DOC 5283 RAPPNOTES.DOC 6284 .PRO 4945 RAPPORT.CMM 840 .SRC 616438 .PRO 4910 DAMESABS.DOC 2139 .SRC 282884 DAMESSRC.DIS 390 SQLREADME.DOC 1299 DAMESVMS.DIS 1062 Machine/System Compiled/Run on: ROLM/DG / AOS Abstract: The HQ USAF Assistant Chief of Staff for Information Systems anticipates the adoption of SQL as the Air Force standard Relational data base query language. The Air Force will probably adopt the American National Standard (ANS) Database Language SQL as its Relational query language. A draft proposed Page 4 ASR Newsletter, Issue 1, April 1986 American National Standard (dpANS)/International Standard Database Language SQL is in the public review process. Given the above Air Force position, the WIS JPMO began a project with the Institute for Defense Analysis and RACOM Computer Professionals to develop a standard Ada DBMS interface (Ada/SQL) based on the dpANS Database Language SQL. A "Proposed Binding Ada to Database Language SQL" has been presented to the responsible American National Standards Committee (X3H2). We anticipate its adoption as the DoD and ANS/ISO standard Ada relational DBMS interface and it will be the WIS Standard Ada DBMS interface. As such, we recommend the Ada/SQL interface be used for any development of an Ada DBMS interface. The RAPPORT and DAMES DBMS Ada interfaces were among the R&D precursors developed to define an Ada DBMS interface. They are provided for information only and their syntax should not be used as a basis to build an Ada interface for any other DBMS. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2. CAIS Files and Sizes (in Bytes): PD:<ADA.CAIS> CAIS.PRO 4658 CAISTESTS.PRO 6084 .SRC 1333231 .SRC 385816 Machine/System Compiled/Run on: Vax 8600, UNIX, Verdix Ada Development System Abstract: This CAIS package provides a robust subset of the interfaces defined in the proposed Military Standard Common APSE Interface Set(CAIS). The goal of MIL-STD-CAIS is to promote tool portability by providing a standardized set of calls for operating system services. It is also hoped that definition of a generalized node model will increase the interoperability of tool sets. This subset includes: 5.1.1,2,3,5 -- Node_Definitions, Node_Management, Attributes, and Structural_Nodes 5.3.1,1-4,10-- Io_Definitions ,Direct_Io, Sequential_Io, Text_Io, and File_Import_Export (also a few procedures from Scroll_Terminal) 5.4.1-20,21 -- List_Utilities, Identifier_Items, and String_Items The interfaces not included are Access_Control, Process_Control, Io_Control, the Io device packages, Float_Item, and Integer_Item. It is intended that this CAIS subset be used to investigate the extent to which CAIS supports the needs of software development tools. Only by rehosting tools and their data to CAIS can the viability of CAIS be determined. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 3. EDITOR (ALED - Ada Line Editor) Files and Sizes (in Bytes): PD:<ADA.CAIS-TOOLS> EDITOR.PRO 7140 .SRC 152675 Machine/System Compiled/Run on: VAX 8600 ULTRIX, Sun2 UNIX 4.2 Abstract: ALED is designed to edit text files. Upon invocation, ALED prompts the user for a file name. If the file exists, its contents (lines) are read in and prepared for editing; if the file does not exist, the file is created and the empty buffer is prepared for editing. ALED is an interactive editor, Page 5 ASR Newsletter, Issue 1, April 1986 accepting single-char commands, filling in a command prompt (for more info as needed), and performing its functions in real-time while the user watches. The functions provided include (but are not limited to) the following: * List Lines * Insert a Group of Lines into the Edit Buffer * Delete Lines * String Search and String Substitution * Movement Within the Edit Buffer * Reading in a File After a Specified Line * Writing out a Range of Lines to a File * Built-in, online Documentation (Summary) ALED's design includes an input line editor, which allows the user to edit text as he types it. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 4. Dynamic String Package Files and Sizes (in Bytes): PD:<ADA.COMPONENTS> DSTR3.PRO 4570 .SRC 16707 .TST 7261 Machine/System Compiled/Run on: VAX 8600 / Ultrix / VERDIX Abstract: This is a package of several string manipulation functions based on a built-in dynamic string type DYN_STRING. It is an adaptation and extension of the package proposed by Sylvan Rubin of Ford Aerospace and Communications Corporation in the Nov/Dec 1984 issue of the Journal of Pascal, Ada and Modula-2. Some new functions have been added, and much of the body code has been rewritten. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5. Documentation Updates Files and Sizes (in Bytes): PD:<ADA.GENERAL> -- these are general information files DIRLIST.DOC 9851 SAMPLE.PRO 2723 FINDME.DOC 1897 SUBMIT.DOC 4769 OPERATE.DOC 1424 TAPEDIST.DOC 1244 PROLOGUE.ADA 1904 WELCOME.DOC 44774 .DOC 1581 .PRO 1622 PD:<ADA.ONLINE-DOC> -- this is the online doc system data base HELP.DAT 118483 .PRO 4129 .SRC 63360 PD:<ADA.POINTERS> -- this is a listing of the validated Ada compilers COMPILERS.DOC 13740 PD:<ADA.WIS-ADA-TOOLS>-- these are details of the WIS/NOSC tools ABSTRACT.DOC 84919 CONTENTS.DOC 42220 Page 6 ASR Newsletter, Issue 1, April 1986 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 6. KALMAN Filter Files and Sizes (in Bytes): PD:<ADA.MATH> KALINSTAL.DOC 33085 KALV1.DIS 113 KALMAN.CMM 568 .DOC 584614 .DIS 117 KALV2.DIS 56 .PRO 3628 .DOC 655958 .SRC 441244 KALTEST.DAT 21447 .DIS 44 Machine/System Compiled/Run on: DEC Ada / VMS Abstract: This tool will consist of a Kalman Filter, a simple track-plot correlation model, an accounting procedure which handles track maintenance details, and an output procedure. The filter will be callable from outside the package as well as internally. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 7. Data Dictionary and Graphic-to-Ada-PDL Design Aid Files and Sizes (in Bytes): PD:<ADA.PDL> DD.CMM 603 GADABS.DOC 3036 .PRO 3792 GADCDR.MIN 8994 .SRC 347983 GADDESIGN.DOC 269602 DDABS.DOC 2159 GADEXAMPL.GPH 102578 DDICTSRC.DIS 1202 GADHELP.HLP 43523 DDICTTEST.DAT 1729 GADSRC.DIS 1615 DDICTUSER.MAN 42780 GADTECH.INF 187808 .RNO 33827 GADUSERS.MAN 185315 DDREAD.ME 4298 GAD.CMM 585 .PRO 4760 .SRC 1034745 7a. Data Dictionary Machine/System Compiled/Run on: DEC Ada / VMS Abstract: The data dictionary is a collection of records which contain various data on Ada declarations and programs. Tools are provided to create, edit, and extract information from the data dictionary. The format and content of each kind of entry in the data dictionary is user defineable. Associated with each type of record is a display form for use while interactively creating or updating the data dictionary entry. 7b. Graphics-to-Ada-PDL Aid Machine/System Compiled/Run on: DEC Ada / VMS Abstract: The Graphic Ada Designer is a specialized tool for creating graphical Object Oriented Design Diagrams (OODDs) for Ada programs and the Program Design Language (PDL) representations associated with each OODD. The Graphic Ada Designer is principally targeted towards the interactive development of these block-like diagrams in support of the development of Ada software. In particular it is designed to support a variant of the Ada Graphic Notation developed by SYSCON from the Object Oriented Design work of Grady Booch and a Page 7 ASR Newsletter, Issue 1, April 1986 presentation on graphical techniques for analysis given by Dr. R. Buhr of Carleton University (see "Software Engineering with Ada" by Grady Booch, and "System Design with Ada" by R.J.A. Buhr). The Graphic Ada Designer requires a bit-mapped graphics terminal supporting at least a minimal display list capability. The implementation will use GKS interfaces when possible. Significant emphasis will be placed on the transportability of the applications software, with execution efficiency being a secondary consideration (i.e., when due to its device and system dependent nature). ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 8. Virtual Terminal Documentation Files and Sizes (in Bytes): PD:<ADA.VIRTERM> VT2SPEC.DOC 330874 Machine/System Compiled/Run on: DEC Ada / VMS Abstract: The ANSI virtual terminal is a program level interface providing support for scroll, page and form-mode terminals. This package uses a terminal capabilities database to determine the capabilities of a variety of terminals. This package was designed to enhance the transportability of the source code and interoperability of the terminal capabilities database. ============================================================================== V. HIGHLIGHTS OF SELECTED SUBMISSIONS The number of accesses made to all files in the Ada Software Repository is automatically tracked by the support software on SIMTEL20. From time to time, I have sent a message out on the ADA-SW email list entitled "Top 20." This is a listing, generated in part by the FILUSE tool on SIMTEL20, which presents the 20 most-accessed files in the Ada Software Repository. On March 24, the Top 20 list was: directory and file name # refs, rate/month, size (pgs) <ADA.COMPONENTS> LIST.ADA 224 14 7 <ADA.COMPONENTS> LIMPRIOR.ADA 182 11 3 <ADA.COMPONENTS> SAFEIO.ADA 180 11 4 <ADA.POINTERS> ADAINFO.DOC 175 11 2 <ADA.COMPONENTS> VDT100.SRC 175 12 6 <ADA.COMPONENTS> PRIOR.ADA 175 10 3 <ADA.GENERAL> KERMIT.DOC 172 10 7 <ADA.COMPONENTS> LIST.PRO 171 10 2 <ADA.GENERAL> PROLOGUE.DOC 167 10 1 <ADA.GENERAL> PROLOGUE.ADA 167 10 1 <ADA.COMPONENTS> QSORT.SRC 167 11 3 <ADA.COMPONENTS> DSTR1.ADA 165 14 4 <ADA.COMPONENTS> SAFEIO.PRO 164 10 2 <ADA.EDUCATION> TITR.DOC 161 15 28 <ADA.COMPONENTS> LIMPRIOR.PRO 161 10 2 <ADA.TOOLS> CONSTRCT.SRC 158 11 58 <ADA.TOOLS> CONSTRCT.DOC 158 10 13 <ADA.COMPONENTS> VDT100.PRO 158 10 2 <ADA.GENERAL> UUCPBIT.DOC 156 9 2 <ADA.POINTERS> EVINFO.DOC 155 9 3 Page 8 ASR Newsletter, Issue 1, April 1986 The "refs" column indicates the number of times the file has been accessed, the "rate/month" column indicates the average number of accesses per month made on the file since the file was placed into the ASR, and the "size" column indicates the size of the file in disk pages. All files are text files, which are stored in a TOPS-20 text file format. The directory listings presented by the online documentation system in the files HELP.DAT in PD:<ADA.ONLINE-DOC> and CONTENTS.DOC and ABSTRACT.DOC in PD:<ADA.WIS-ADA- TOOLS> give file sizes to the nearest character (byte). The files in the Top 20 list fall into just a few classes: Class Files Comments Reusable LIST.ADA Generic Linked List Package Software LIMPRIOR.ADA Generic Limited Prioritized Queue Package Components SAFEIO.ADA I/O Handler with User Error Trapping VDT100.SRC VT100 Terminal Driver PRIOR.ADA Generic Prioritized Queue Package QSORT.SRC Generic Quick Sort Package DSTR1.ADA Dynamic String Manipulation Package Tools CONSTRCT.SRC Ada Program Construction Tool Pointers and ADAINFO.DOC Pointer on the ADA-INFORMATION Account Other Info KERMIT.DOC Data on the KERMIT File Transfer Protocol PROLOGUE.DOC Information on Making Submissions PROLOGUE.ADA Prologue Template (used in making submissions) UUCPBIT.DOC Information on Accessing the Repository from USENET (via UUCP) and BITNET (access is currently by email only) EVINFO.DOC Pointer on the Evaluation and Verification efforts Educational TITR.DOC Technical Report from TI about Lessons Information Learned from the Software Development Effort for the WIS/NOSC Tools; includes software productivity data ============================================================================== Ada is a registered trademark, U.S. Government - Ada Joint Program Office. The following are trademarks of Digital Equipment Corporation: DEC, DECSYSTEM-20, ULTRIX, VAX, VMS. UNIX is a trademark of AT&T Bell Laboratories. The following are trademarks of Data General Corporation: AOS, ROLM. Verdix is a trademark of Verdix Corporation. The Ada Software Repository Newsletter is Copyright 1986 Echelon, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Permission to reprint, wholly or partially, is automatically granted if source credit is given to Echelon. Echelon, Inc. 885 N. San Antonio Road Los Altos, CA 94022 USA Telephone: 415/948-3820 Page 9