Ada 83 history
Brief historical context
In the history of the development of modern computing, there is a particular and rich period that extends from the early 1980s to the mid-1990s. This period corresponds to the appearance and maturation of personal computing (IBM PC in 1981, Apple Macintosh in 1984) and the birth of the Internet.
The previous period, which could be situated in the 1970s, saw the beginning of microprocessor technology (Intel 4004 in 1971) which would lead to the gradual disappearance of large “mainframe” computers in favor of mini-computers and then micro-computers and compact personal workstations with increasing power. Computer programming languages follow the evolution of increasingly capable hardware in terms of speed and memory, and one of them in particular, the Pascal language, which appeared in 1970, will exert a particular influence. Following Pascal, a reflection on the homogenization of software systems of the American Department of Defense (DoD) began in 1974 and led in 1983 to the definition of a highly advanced language: Ada, now known as Ada 83 to distinguish it from its evolutionary versions Ada 95 and later, 2005, 2012, 2022.
Ada 83 in its time
Here is a timeline of salient events relating to the period that interests us (preparatory from 1970 to 1983, standardized life of the Ada 83 language from 1983 to 1994).
1971 the Intel 4004 microprocessor is produced.
1974 independent proposals for a common language from the US defense services: US-ARMY, US-AIR FORCE, US-NAVY.
1975 Creation of the High Order Language Working Group (HOLWG), beginning of the Strawman language specifications, then Wooden man.
1976 (January) Tinman specifications, parallel evaluation of 23 existing languages. Derivatives of the Algol-68, Pascal, PL-1 languages are recognized as possible bases.
1977 (January) Ironman specifications. (August) four competitors emerge among 15 proposals mainly based on Pascal: CII-Honeywell Bull, Intermetrics, Softech, SRI International.
1978 2 competitors continue: Steelman specifications. Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) releases the VAX 11/780
1979 (April) The “Green” project led by Jean Ichbiah (CII-Honeywell team) is selected. In May the name of the language is chosen, it will be “Ada”, in homage to Augusta Ada Lovelace (1815-1852), daughter of the poet Byron and collaborator of Charles Babbage in his work on the “Analytical Machine”. New York University (NYU) with Robert Dewar examines the Ada specification and develops a partial executable model in SETL language. Launch of the Stoneman project for a programming environment for the common Ada language. Appearance of the Motorola 68000 microprocessor. It will be discontinued in 1996, the succession being taken over by its successors 68010 to 68060.
1980 intermediate standard, NYU Ada/Ed is adapted. In December HOLWG becomes Ada Joint Program Office (AJPO). J. Ichbiah founds Alsys. 1981 IBM introduces the first PC. 1982 new Ada reference manual, adapted from NYU Ada/Ed1983 release of the ANSI-MIL-STD-1815 standard defining Ada 83, in April Ada/Ed is validated on the ACVC (Ada Compiler Validation Capability) tests.
The C language becomes popular, between 1985 and 1992 Ada/Ed will be translated into C.
1984 Apple presents the Macintosh, DEC releases the Microvax I. The DEC Ada compiler is available. 1985 release of the IBM OS-2 operating system. Workstation for Ada programming Rational R1000.
1986 Collaboration of the National Center for the Study of Telecommunications (CNET) with NYU on the C version of Ada/Ed.
1987 ISO standard, revision in preparation for Ada 95. DEC microvax 3000. 1989 C language is standardized: ANSI C. 1990 Intermetrics is chosen for the Ada 9X revision
1992 DEC Alpha AXP processor. Minicomputers give way to microcomputers. DEC, not having taken the turn well, will disappear in 1998.
1994 November Ada 95 revision accepted. Now the transition out of Ada 83 begins, although compatible with Ada 83, Ada 95 is in many aspects, including object programming, a language with a very different flavor.