> Is there a requirement that compilers for these two languages be
> validated? If so, who validates the C compilers? It's my understanding
> that NIST is going out of the compiler validation business. Surely you
> don't require that Ada compilers be validated while allowing unvalidated
> C compilers?
>
IMNSHO, validation was important to a VERY small subset of
developers/projects/program managers. Many, many people have
overestimated the value of validation as a "motivator". What we did
is create this type of logic (argue all you want, I've seen it
hundreds of times personally):
if language = C then
if vendor claims it complies with ANSI standard then
the compiler is good
else
it's probably even better with those extensions
end if
C is a good choice since everybody knows it
end if
if language = Ada then
if compiler is unvalidated then
the compiler is very bad
else
compiler is very expensive
end if
don't use Ada
end if