Table of contents
Introduction
Ada is a structured, statically typed, imperative, wide-spectrum, and object-oriented high-level computer programming language originally designed for embedded and real-time systems.
Some key points about Ada:
Ada was developed by the U.S. Department of Defense in the 1970s and 1980s to be a language for writing long-lived, safe, and reliable applications.
Ada focuses on portability, reliability, maintainability, and efficiency. It is designed to support the construction of long-lived applications where safety or security is critical.
Ada supports data abstraction, exception handling, generics, and object-oriented programming. It also has built-in support for concurrent programming.
Ada programs are compiled into a low-level machine code. The compiler checks the program for syntax and type errors.
Some common uses of Ada are avionics software, railway signaling systems, medical devices, automated teller machines, etc.
The Ada language specification is maintained by the Ada Resource Association and the language standard is revised and reissued every 4-5 years.
Maintenance
Ada is an actively developed and maintained programming language. Here are some key points regarding the current status of Ada development:
• The Ada language specification is maintained by the Ada Resource Association (ARA). The ARA is an international non-profit organization responsible for promoting the correct use of the Ada programming language.
• The latest Ada language standard is Ada 2012, which was released in 2012. The next revision, Ada 2020, is currently under development and expected to be released soon.
• Ada continues to be used in many safety-critical and mission-critical applications, especially in industries like aerospace, defense, railways, etc. due to its emphasis on reliability, security and safety.
• There are many high-quality Ada compilers available from vendors like AdaCore, Altreonic, etc. These compilers support the latest Ada language standards.
• The Ada community remains active with conferences, workshops and technical papers being published regularly. Various open source Ada libraries and tools are also being developed.
• While Ada is not as widely used as some other languages, it remains relevant in its niche of safety-critical and mission-critical software development. The language continues to evolve to meet the needs of such applications.
So in summary, while Ada may not be among the most popular programming languages, it is still an actively developed and maintained language, especially for developing reliable and secure software in specialized domains.
Prospects
Here are some key points regarding job prospects and companies using Ada:
• Ada has relatively niche but stable job prospects, mainly for software developers working on safety-critical and mission-critical systems.
• Major companies that use Ada include:
Aerospace and defense contractors like Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Airbus, Raytheon, BAE Systems, etc. They use Ada for avionics software, weapons systems, etc.
Rail companies like Bombardier Transportation, Alstom, Siemens, etc. Ada is used for rail signaling systems, train control software, etc.
Medical device companies like GE Healthcare, Philips, etc. Ada is used in things like patient monitoring systems, imaging devices, etc.
Government agencies and military organizations, especially in the US, Europe and countries like India.
• Ada jobs tend to demand higher salaries compared to some other programming languages due to the specialized nature of work and skill requirements.
• Demand for Ada programmers is expected to remain stable given the continued usage of Ada in safety-critical domains. However, the number of Ada jobs available is likely to remain limited.
• Having experience with Ada as well as other mainstream languages like C/C++ can improve your job prospects, as many companies look for candidates with a mix of Ada and systems programming skills.
So in summary, while Ada jobs are niche, they tend to be stable and well-paying. Most Ada jobs are with aerospace, defense, rail and medical device companies that develop safety-critical software. Having a mix of Ada and systems programming skills can boost your prospects.
Motivation
Here are some reasons to still consider learning Ada in 2023:
Stable job prospects: As mentioned earlier, Ada continues to be used widely for safety-critical systems in domains like aerospace, defense, rail, medical devices, etc. So there are stable job opportunities for Ada programmers, though the number of jobs may be limited.
Higher salaries: Ada jobs tend to demand higher salaries due to the specialized skillset required and critical nature of work. This can be attractive for some programmers.
Proven safety record: Ada has a long history of being used successfully in safety-critical applications. It has well-established safety standards and a proven safety record. This is not the case for relatively new languages like Go and Rust.
Purpose-built features: Ada has many language features specifically designed for safety-critical programming like exceptions, generics, pre and post-conditions, etc. These make it well-suited for such domains.
Long-term usage: It is likely that Ada will continue to be used for legacy systems and new safety-critical projects for many years to come. So the language is not going away anytime soon.
Broader skills: Knowing Ada in addition to a more modern language like Go or Rust can give you a wider skillset and make you attractive to more types of employers.
Differentiability: Having Ada skills can differentiate you from the crowd of Go/Rust programmers and open doors to certain types of specialized jobs.
So in summary, while Ada is niche compared to languages like Go and Rust, it still has some advantages for the right candidate - stable but high-paying jobs, a proven safety record, purpose-built features and the likelihood of long-term usage. Learning Ada can complement modern languages by broadening your skillset and potentially making you more attractive to some employers.
Using AI
Here are some ways AI-generated content can help make Ada easier to learn:
Tailored learning materials: AI can generate personalized learning materials tailored to a learner's specific needs, background and learning style. This can make concepts easier to grasp for different individuals.
Simplified explanations: AI can simplify complex Ada concepts and produce explanations in a more beginner-friendly manner. It can detect where learners are struggling and generate targeted remedial content.
Code examples: AI can generate a wide variety of correctly formatted and functioning Ada code examples to illustrate different concepts and language features. This makes them easier for learners to understand and experiment with.
Interactive exercises: AI can generate interactive exercises and quizzes to test comprehension and provide instant feedback. This helps learners identify gaps in their knowledge and stay engaged.
Automated debugging: AI can detect syntax errors and other bugs in learner-written Ada code, point out the exact issues and provide hints for fixing them. This aids the learning process.
Contextual recommendations: AI can recommend additional learning resources like tutorials, documentation and forums based on a learner's current progress and needs. This provides just-in-time guidance.
Consistency: AI-generated content tends to be more consistent in style, formatting and explanations compared to human-generated content. This reduces confusion for learners.
In summary, AI has the potential to revolutionize how programming languages are taught and learned. By generating personalized, simplified yet comprehensive learning content and tools, AI can make Ada - or any other language - much easier for beginners to grasp. My new blog series aims to leverage this potential to lower the barriers to learning Ada.
Disclaim: This article is created with Rix AI. In next articles we will ask many questions in order, to learn the main programming concepts and best practice using Ada language to create professional code.