[GAP] advice on Ada in general programming languages course

[Robert Dewar]

Ted Baker wrote:
> Dear GAP discussion list members:
> 
> I'm looking for ideas on how to "hook" students on Ada in the
> course I am scheduled to teach next fall.  In particular, I am
> interested in hearing if anyone else has taught a course like this
> before and how they worked Ada into it, and whether you are aware
> of any reference materials and Ada software artifacts or tools
> that would fit this course.  I am also hearing comments/criticisms
> on some of the ideas I have been considedring.

One idea is to introduce the notion of safety-critical programming
and certification, and talk a bit about air traffic control, avionics
programs (most students will have flown on a Boeing-777, which is an
all-Ada plane, and Ada will play a part in both the dream liner (787)
and the new Airbus), so Ada naturally comes up, and you then have an
opportunity to discuss why a language like Ada is particularly relevant
when lives are at stake. The Air Traffic Control systems in much of the
world, including Europe and AUstralia are all in Ada.

Ada is also used by Canal Plus, the "French HBO". That's not a safety
critical program, but they do require very high reliability, they would
have a lot of angry customers if the system went down in the middle of
Lord of the Rings :-)

Robert Dewar