Ada for Software Engineers

Citation

Harwood, C.J. (1999), "Ada for Software Engineers", Kybernetes, Vol. 28 No. 5, pp. 77-79. https://doi.org/10.1108/k.1999.28.5.77.4

For many systemists and cyberneticians it is very much a question of what happened to Ada. It was to be the language of the future when in 1983 its original version was introduced. Seminars on the language and presentations built up the hype about what was thought to be the panacea for all computer users whatever aspect of programming they were concerned with. This book builds on the earlier version and introduces Ada 95 in 16 chapters of well written text.

Ada development in the 1980s was a milestone in software evolution. It was developed from PL/1 and Pascal by the US Defence Department (DOD) to reduce the cost of software used in its applications. These costs not only affected DOD but every organisation whatever its function because of the proliferation of software languages.

The answer at the time was not to make systems more capable of accepting a variety of programming languages but rather to produce some sort of Esperanto programming language together with its own defined environment. Standardization and support problems would be solved in one go as would the development and training nightmares that existed. What was decided was that a new language was required and not just a redefinition of an existing language. The concept of Ada was born, along with its associated Ada Programming Support Environment (KAPSE) and the Minimal Ada Programming Support Environment (MAPSE). The rest is now history and the original lack of integration in the solution to the whole problem being one reason why Ada did not result in the great productivity that our early plans predicted. Benefits have, however, accrued over the years and the Ada 95 version is promising even if the expectations of its developers are now more realistic. Systems and our approach to them have undergone tremendous changes since the 1970s when languages such as Ada were contemplated. As this review is written, software engineers who were the target readership of this book are considering other language philosophies and the resulting systems. Their verdict may well be that despite the apparent advances in Ada′s specification it may not, despite current investments, be a language with a future

If the Ada Reference Manual, like many other such defining manuals, was readable, many introductory books on programming languages and systems would be redundant. They are not, however redundant, and books such as Professor Ben‐Ari′s have become essential to those who want an interface between a strict specification and users who need a practical guide, like so many software engineers and practitioners. Introductory books not only guide the potential user in the use of the “official” manual but include examples and case studies. In this text, the many case studies examined, show how Ada can be used to solve real problems and with its links to the Ada Reference Manual also instruct readers in its use. What was found important to any software engineer who is to become an Ada user is the excellent sections at the end of the book which provides glossaries and listings to the Ada Manual.

The chapters on offer cover the range of the language with detail about real‐time properties of the language. Ideas about using Ada for systems programming and with real‐time/distributed systems is also well covered. The style of directly linking the introductory text to the “official” manual pays off leaving the reader in no doubt as to the importance of the reference manual and its definitions. The test (with answers) also fits in easily and plays a worthwhile part in the learning process.

The CD‐ROM supplied with the book was also essential to the way in which Professor Ben‐Ari′s learning strategy unfolded (GNAT Ada Compiler versions allowed it to be tested).

Although obviously aimed at software engineers it is recommended for any computer users who want a more in‐depth view of the Ada version 95.

It is an introduction, however, and it is well priced so that even the knowledgeable Ada devotees should quite definitely have a copy on their book shelves.