A Technical History of the SEI

In the handbook, significant emphasis was placed on providing information and suggesting methods
that would help program and project managers succeed in using Ada across a broad range of
application domains. Although the issues were complex, they were not all unique to Ada. Many of
the issues addressed in the handbook must be addressed when developing any software-intensive
system in any programming language. The handbook focused on the following topics: program
management issues, including costs and technical and program control; Ada’s goals and benefits;
software tools, with emphasis on compiler validation and quality issues; the state of Ada technology
as it related to system engineering; the application of special-purpose languages; issues related
to mixing Ada with other languages; possible productivity benefits resulting from software
reuse; and implications for education and training.
The Consequence: Unbiased Guidance
The handbook provided unbiased guidance upon which
to make decisions about the use of Ada. Myths were
debunked, misinformation clarified, and some product
claims put in context. More than 6,000 copies were distributed,
and the handbook became the most widely
read SEI publication to that point. The neutrality and
technical validity of the treatment helped establish the
SEI as a trusted source of information—the “honest
broker” reputation that is acknowledged and respected
by the software engineering community and that the
SEI continues to foster.
The SEI Contribution
As with many other efforts in which the SEI has taken
the lead, much of the information in the handbook was
gathered from both the DoD and the industry making
up the DoD software supply chain. In addition to leadership
and organization, the SEI had the expertise to assess
the credibility of the information, separating fact
from fiction. The SEI recognizes that many senior people
in both industry and government invested their time
to influence the content and ensure its correctness. Nevertheless,
the SEI was responsible for writing the document
and accurately portraying the state of Ada and supporting technology at the time the handbook
was published.
References
The View from Others
Despite the fact that some Ada
proponents felt the handbook was
too neutral with respect to promoting
the language and some Ada
opponents felt it promoted Ada, no
one disagreed with the accuracy of
the content. DoD program managers
reported that the information
provided a basis for making decisions,
for asking important questions
of their contractors, for justifying
and allocating funds for
development, and, in some cases,
for taking alternative approaches.
Prime contractors likewise reported
that it provided them the insight
necessary to evaluate alternatives
when selecting the technology
on which to base proposals.
[Foreman 1987] Foreman, John & Goodenough, John. Ada Adoption Handbook: A Program Manager’s
Guide (CMU/SEI-87-TR-009). Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University,
1987. http://resources.sei.cmu.edu/library/asset-view.cfm?assetID=10261
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