Programming Language Ada 95 - Report Example

?ADA95: PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE ADA95: Programming Language Affiliation Table of Contents BACKGROUND 4 HISTORY 4 ADA: MAIN OBJECTIVE OF THE LANGUAGE  6 LANGUAGE GOALS FULFILLMENT 7 SYNTACTIC OR SEMANTIC DETAILS 9 ISSUES IN PROGRAMMING 9 PRESENT USES OF ADA 10 CONCLUSION 11 REFERENCE 12 INTRODUCTION The Ada language emerged as a result of most widespread and costly language design attempts ever done. Up till year 1974, The Department of Defense has used embedded software system applications to manage operations. In this scenario, an embedded software system is one in which the technology based computer hardware is implemented in the systems it controls. However, more than 450 programming languages were utilized to manage numerous working projects of Department of Defense but none of them was standardized. The main reason could be the absence of reusability. For these reasons, the Navy, Army and Air Force planned to build a high-level programming language especially for embedded systems (The Language Guide, 1997; Kempe, 1995). Thus, the Ada emerged as a programming language designed to facilitate the development of extremely reliable and long-standing embedded software systems. This language comprises capabilities to describe packages of associated objects, types and relevant operations. Additionally, the language packages can be classified and the types can be extended in order to facilitate the development of language libraries of adaptable and reusable software parts. In addition, these processes can be applied in forms of sub-programs with usual sequential programming control structures, or as accesses that comprise synchronization of simultaneous operational threads of control as a fraction of their invocation. Moreover, the programming language is capable of dealing with modularity in the physical way as well with a potential to up-hold split compilation (Kempe, 1995). This report will discuss different aspects of Ada95 programming language. This research based report will cover history, technology and operational areas of Ada95. This research will also offer a detailed overview of some of the important issues associated with this programming language. BACKGROUND Ada95 programming language is used for the development of real-time and synchronized programming. In this programming language, different kinds of issue and error are indicated through exceptions and managed explicitly. Additionally, the programming language as well includes the features for system programming; which allows accurate control over the illustration of data and access to system reliant-properties. Most importantly, this programming language offers a comprehensive and predefined programming setting of standard packages comprising amenities for, among others, string handling, input-output, random number generation and numeric elementary functions (Kempe, 1995). HISTORY In 1970s, the United States DoD (Department of Defense) was worried due to a number of different programming languages being utilized for developing and managing its embedded systems and other computer system projects as well as most of them were outdated or hardware reliant and none of them allowed for safe modular programming. Thus, in year 1975, The Department of Defense formed a technology working group known as High Order Language Working Group (HOLWG), with the intention of minimizing this figure by discoing or finding or developing a single technology based programming language which could be used to manage all the embedded systems. As a result Ada emerged (Kempe Software Capital Enterprises, 2011; Feldman, 1999; eNotes.com, Inc., 2011). In addition, Ada programming language greatly took attention of the programming community all through its early days. Its backers as well as others forecasted that it would become a leading language for wide-ranging principle programming as well as not immediately defense-related tasks. In this scenario, Ichbiah widely stated that within 10 years, just two programming languages would stay Ada and Lisp. In addition, untimely Ada programming compilers attempted to apply the huge, complex language and both run-time and compile-time working performance would become slow and tools primitive. Thus, Ada Compiler vendors spent a lot of time and hard work in passing the huge, language-conformance-testing, administration needed "ACVC" justification set that was necessary in other latest characteristics of the Ada language attempt (Kempe Software Capital Enterprises, 2011; Feldman, 1999; eNotes.com, Inc., 2011). Moreover, NYU Ada/ED translator was the initial legalized Ada application that was approved on April 11, 1983. NYU Ada/ED was established in the high-level programming language set SETL. In addition, in 1987, United States Department of Defense started making use of Ada programming language for their software projects where new programming code was over 30 percent of result, although exceptions to this law were frequently granted. The DoD’s Ada authorization was successfully finished in year 1997, as the DoD started to hold COTS (commercial off the shelf programming) technology (Kempe Software Capital Enterprises, 2011; Feldman, 1999; eNotes.com, Inc., 2011). ADA: MAIN OBJECTIVE OF THE LANGUAGE  One of the major aims and objectives of Ada95 is to offer a set of supplemental programming packages of wide-ranging efficacy in order to ensure portability and reusability. In this scenario, a number of programming packages are fundamentally built-in to the language (like that Ada-Finalization). This move is intended to highlight that input-output immediately one of several services offered through predefined setting and is not actually an intrinsic fraction of the language (Guerby, 1995). In addition, the Ada was intended to offer support for embedded and real-time programming applications; those necessitate knowing the amount of time that some operation will need, as well as guaranteeing that space is not exhausted all through program running. In this scenario, one of the major ideas of reuse is the capability to utilize the similar code for performing various similar tasks, varying simply a number of properties that is particular at the point of reuse. A usual instance is a “container” data type like that a queue or a stack. In addition, the processes performed on an object of similar kind (for instance, introducing an element or deleting an element) do not depend on the category of the element. Additionally, it would be complex as well as error prone if the programmer requires copying source files as well as changing them in order to reuse the code. Moreover, Ada programming language was the initially and widely utilized programming language to tackle this kind of problems and it is one of the major reasons of its standard capability. In addition, a stack or queue type can be described using a generic programming package parameterized with the element type. In this scenario, the programming package will state the essential processes for execution that does not depend on precise characteristics of the element type. However, reusing a general programming package involves instantiating it with the preferred element category. A useful area influence of this means is that some given data object of the consequential container type is recognized to comprise simply elements that is the element category offered at the instantiation. Though, Ada too was intended for software engineering as a major goal. Furthermore, it presented much better support as compared to other programming languages such as Java in the areas that are more relevant to a basic course, for instance offering a standard generic system, stronger type checking, and a well-organized stack foundational upon run-time model (Brosgol, 1998). LANGUAGE GOALS FULFILLMENT One of the main goals of Ada95 programming language is to offer the required language services and capabilities for building large size information systems that before have been developed using COBOL and 4GLs. Though, to some extent, basic language improvements like that child units and object oriented features, as well as the new capability for distribution, enable it to convene this objectives. On the other hand, there are as well precise needs from the computational point of view and for report-oriented results that have to be tackled in an attempt to make sure applicability of information systems applications. In this scenario, the basic requirement is that the value should be exact for instance, decimal arithmetic for quantities up to 18 digits of accuracy. In addition, it offers the capabilities to interface with data generated by or programs documented in, similar to some other languages like that COBOL and C (Guerby, F Information Systems, 1995). In view of the fact that Ada was initially and purposefully developed by DoD (Department of Defense), in the beginning of 1980. From that time it has been used for projects that come under defense sector. However, the Ada has also been used in the non-defense areas. Though, some of its initial implementations were in only specific business management systems like that an employment management system at a printing business or a payroll system at a truck maker. However, ADA has also contributed in a joint SIGAda-Ada IC endeavor to organize as well as publish application briefs for projects whose owners are keen to get a lot of publicity. Additionally, some of these “success stories” are available on the web or can be retrieved from Ada IC and SIGAda Educator websites. Though, it is not easy to get reliable information for attribution. In this scenario, a lot of businesses are reasonably uncomfortable with observing particulars of their projects such as languages requirements and tools utilized and explained in print. These particulars are frequently known as trade areas, and occasionally are considered to be unnecessary requests to “head hunters” to approach key staff members. Alternatively, the published stories, joint with inside tips from software developers, produce sufficient information for a supportive role of Ada in the non-defense world (Ada Resource Association , 2011; Feldman, 1999). SYNTACTIC OR SEMANTIC DETAILS The services and facilities offered by Ada95 are being improved through the characterization of some of the new “building blocks” in 3 fundamental areas. In this scenario, the object-oriented programming is the large size, real-time and parallel programming. In addition, in every scenario, the review team has utilized its features as the fundamental element for the improved capabilities. Additionally, the derived and universal types offer the foundation for object-oriented programming. In this scenario, the existing library unit idea forms the foundation for the program partitioning and hierarchical name space. On the other hand, the ideas of private types, procedures, tasks and entries form the foundation for ensuring the safe record creation, facilitating quick mutual exclusion and synchronizing job communication. Moreover, by making use of these building procedures, the team considers that the revision signifies a natural development of the existing outstanding Ada95 capabilities. Thus, it ensures that Ada could be utilized professionally and efficiently to resolve the hard systems application issues of the ’90s (Ada Resource Association , 2011; Feldman, 1999). ISSUES IN PROGRAMMING In Ada95 programming language, most of the issues can be tackled by improving the divided compilation capabilities, and standardizing systems for breaking large size applications into disjointedly associated “partitions,” those can be loaded separately by preserving strong typing. In this scenario, Ada95 offers outstanding separated compilation services, enforcing complete strong type-checking all through disjointedly compiled elements of the system. Though, the namespace for “library units” (the fundamental separately compliable component of an application) is flat. In addition, for Ada95, the system library unit names can form a hierarchical structure. In this scenario, the program library turns into a forest of library unit trees, in which every “root” library unit is identified through a single identifier, and “child” library units refer to a sequence of identifiers alienated with periods (Kempe Software Capital Enterprises, 2011; Feldman, 1999). PRESENT USES OF ADA Due to a lot of security critical support characteristics offered by Ada programming language, it is at the present utilized not only for military systems, but as well in commercial programming projects where software errors and issues could have severe outcomes, for example, it is used in aviation and commercial rockets, air traffic control, satellites and other space systems, banking and railway transport. In addition, the software system used in high-tech passenger plan Boeing 777 was written in Ada that is known as fly-by-wire system. Additionally, the Canadian computerized Air Traffic control structure was also developed through Ada that comprised approximately 1 million lines of code. Its characteristics involve higher distributed processing requiring a distributed Ada system database along with object-oriented working design. Moreover, Ada has been utilized to develop other air traffic technology based systems, for example United Kingdom’s next generation iFACTS air traffic control system or Interim Future Area Control Tools Support is planned and developed using SPARK Ada. Furthermore, it has also been used for the development of a French TVM in cab signaling computerized technology based system on the TGV high speed rail system, and the metro sub-urban automated trains in London, Paris, New York City and Hong Kong (Kempe Software Capital Enterprises, 2011; Feldman, 1999). CONCLUSION The Ada language emerged as a result of most widespread and costly language design attempts ever done. Up till year 1974, The Department of Defense has used embedded software system applications to manage operations. The Ada emerged as a programming language designed to facilitate the development of extremely reliable and long-standing embedded software systems. This language comprises capabilities to describe packages of associated objects, types and relevant operations. In addition, Ada95 programming language is used for the development of real-time and synchronized programming. In this programming language, different kinds of issue and error are indicated through exceptions and managed explicitly. In year 1975, The Department of Defense formed a technology working group known as High Order Language Working Group (HOLWG), with the intention of minimizing this figure by discoing or finding or developing a single technology based programming language which could be used to manage all the embedded systems. As a result Ada emerged. One of the main goals of Ada95 programming language is to offer the required language services and capabilities for building large size information systems that before have been developed using COBOL and 4GLs. Due to a lot of security critical support characteristics offered by Ada programming language, it is at the present utilized not only for military systems, but as well in commercial programming projects where software errors and issues could have severe outcomes, for example, it is used in aviation and commercial rockets, air traffic control, satellites and other space systems, banking and railway transport. This repot has presented a detailed analysis of some of the important aspects of Ada95 programming language. This programming language has evolved as a major technology development in the area of programming. This report has assessed the major features of Ada95 development. This report assessed the basic goals of language development and present uses of this language. REFERENCE Ada Resource Association . (2011). An Overview of Ada 95. Retrieved October 02, 2011, from http://www.adaic.org/ada-resources/standards/ada-95-documents/95overvw/ Brosgol, B. M. (1998). A comparison of Ada and Java as a foundation teaching language. ACM SIGAda Ada Letters, Volume XVIII Issue 5 , 12-38. eNotes.com, Inc. (2011). Ada (programming language). Retrieved October 05, 2011, from http://www.enotes.com/topic/Ada_(programming_language) Feldman, M. B. (1999). Ada 95 in Context. Retrieved October 04, 2011, from The George Washington University: http://www.seas.gwu.edu/~csci190/spring03/handbook.pdf Guerby, L. (1995). A Predefined Language Environment . Retrieved October 04, 2011, from http://www.adaic.org/resources/add_content/standards/95rat/rat95html/rat95-p3-a.html Guerby, L. (1995). F Information Systems. Retrieved October 03, 2011, from http://www.adaic.org/resources/add_content/standards/95rat/rat95html/rat95-p3-f.html Kempe Software Capital Enterprises. (2011). History of Ada. Retrieved October 03, 2011, from http://www.adahome.com/History/ Kempe, M. (1995, March 12). Section 1: General -- TOC . Retrieved October 04, 2011, from http://www.adahome.com/rm95/rm9x-01.html Kempe, M. (1995). The composition of abstractions: evolution of software component design with Ada 95. TRI-Ada '95 Proceedings of the conference on TRI-Ada '95: Ada's role in global markets: solutions for a changing complex world (pp. 394-405). ACM New York, USA. The Language Guide. (1997). The Ada Programming Language. Retrieved October 02, 2011, from http://groups.engin.umd.umich.edu/CIS/course.des/cis400/ada/ada.html Read More