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"The new iFACTS system will use a program designed and implemented with the SPARK Ada language" What's the current status of this project? I worked with someo
by YZF 14y ago
"The new iFACTS system will use a program designed and implemented with the SPARK Ada language"
What's the current status of this project? I worked with someone who worked for many years on air traffic control software, it was thousands of developers, zero productivity, huge delays and budget overruns. Air traffic control software aids air traffic controllers but it's not as mission critical as the embedded software in the plane itself or in your car or pacemaker.
- betterunix 14y agoAs far as I know, the system was fully deployed in 2011. I am not sure if it lived up to its promises (I am not an air traffic control person). Regarding the software that controls an airplane, is that being written in C++? It is not too hard to find a counterexample there; Boeing wrote the software for the 777 jet in Ada. I would be very wary of any aircraft whose control software is written in C++, unless it was written some small, unambiguous subset of C++ (which would exclude most language features anyway). Likewise with medical implants, automotive systems, or anything other case in which failure might cause death.