> -----Original Message----- > From: Blue Boar [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: 01 July 2004 17:11 > To: Peter Amey > Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: Re: [SC-L] ACM Queue article and security education > > > Peter Amey wrote: > > There are languages which are more suitable for the construction of > > high-integrity systems and have been for years. We could have > > adopted Modula-2 back in the 1980s, people could take the > blinkers of > > prejudice off and look properly at Ada. Yet we continue to use > > C-derived languages with known weaknesses. > > So we trade the known problems for a set of unknown ones?
[snip] A mindset that would have kept us building aircraft in wood! In any case, we _do_ adopt new languages and methods, frequently. In the time I have been using SPARK I have had people say: "that's neat, if only you could do it for X". Where X has been C, C++, Java and C# in that order and at about 5 year intervals. What we _don't_ do is make those choices based on any kind of objective assessment or engineering judgement. [snip] > Language X may very well be a much better starting point, I > don't know. > I do believe that it will never be properly looked at until > the whole > world starts using it for everything, though. And how will the whole world start using it if everyone waits for everyone else? In any case, I don't expect the whole world to adopt any one method (any more than I build bicycles in carbon fibre even though that is the material of choice for, say, racing cars). What I do expect is that principled engineers, the kind of people who care enough about their profession to contribute to groups like this, will seek to use the best and most appropriate technology for their purposes. Peter ********************************************************************** This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify the system manager. The IT Department at Praxis Critical Systems can be contacted at [EMAIL PROTECTED] This footnote also confirms that this email message has been swept by MIMEsweeper for the presence of computer viruses. www.mimesweeper.com ********************************************************************** ________________________________________________________________________ This e-mail has been scanned for all viruses by Star Internet. The service is powered by MessageLabs. For more information on a proactive anti-virus service working around the clock, around the globe, visit: http://www.star.net.uk ________________________________________________________________________
