Forum for Academic Software Engineering Volume 05, Number 07, Wed Mar 8 12:46:44 CST 1995 Topics: Obtaining the full text of edited long articles Workshop on software engineering education Headache of the century Project Alfa CSEE'95 Reminder AdaBasis - Ada Software Repository for WWW Sixth Annual South Central Small College Computing Conference CFP: 1995 Asia-Pacific Software Engineering Conference WIFT Reminder CTI Computing workshop on Software Metrics Midwest AI and Cognitive Society Conference CFP: ICCE 1995 Professional Awareness in Software Engineering (PASE'96) Teaching Ada in Real-Time Software Systems VIDEO: New ISO-backed Software Engineering Life Cycle Standard A------------------------------------------------------- From: kpierce@d.umn.edu (Keith Pierce) Subject: Obtaining the full text of edited long articles In order to shorten the newsletter, long articles (usually conference announcements) will be shortened to include enough information for you to determine interest. You can obtain automatically the full text of the articles by sending email to fase-request@d.umn.edu with the SUBJECT line containing SEND Include only this line in the subject of the message, not the body. For example, you can receive the final program for the SEI Conference on Software Engineering Education by emailing me with subject SEND CSEE95 A------------------------------------------------------- From: lwerth@cs.utexas.edu (Laurie Werth) Subject: Workshop on software engineering education I would like to organize a workshop on software engineering education at the FIE Conference in Atlanta, November 1-5. The primary goal would be to discuss current efforts by the Joint Task Force and its implications for software engineering educators. A focus would be the coordination of software engineering education efforts with the ACM and the TCSE of the IEEE-CS with those of the Joint Task Force. Possible activities include presentations by various representatives such as some of the co-chairs of the three subcommittees, input to the efforts to gather a "body of knowledge" and discussion of future directions. There have been a variety of professional organizations active in promoting computing education. The most prominent have been the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), the Computer Society of the IEEE (IEEE-CS) and the Data Processing Managers Association (DPMA). Two important agencies which came into existence in the 1980's are the Software Engineering Institute (SEI), founded by the Department of Defense to promote software engineering, and the Computing Sciences Accreditation Board (CSAB), founded by the ACM and IEEE-CS to accredit undergraduate software oriented programs. In addition, ABET accredits programs in Computer Engineering. Recently, a major effort has been organized under the leadership of the IEEE-CS/ACM Joint Task Force on Software Engineering as a Profession. This work should have a major impact on software engineering education and its curriculum as well as providing significant into efforts to license or certify software professionals. Please contact me to express interest or request more information. A------------------------------------------------------- From: kpierce@d.umn.edu (Keith Pierce) Subject: Headache of the century ==> from Edupage 3/7/95 The short-sightedness of computer programmers 30 years ago will result in a major headache for mainframe operators when the clock ticks one second past midnight on Dec. 31, 1999. In an effort to save two bytes of memory, many programmers eliminated the first two digits of the year in software essential to the functions of some of the world's biggest financial and business institutions. The problem can be fixed through recompiling -- translating machine code into programming language, changing the date fields and recompiling into binary code -- but most experts agree that it will take several years to reconfigure all the "bad" data. (Tampa Tribune 3/6/95 B&F3) A------------------------------------------------------- From: Administrador del Sistema Subject: Project Alfa Alpha is an initiative of the European Union launched with the purpose of facilitating cooperation among Latin American and European universities. One of the objectives of Alfa is the development of cooperative projects in Engineering fields among a minimum of 5 participants: two (2) from Latin America an three (3) from Europe. Participants should be institutions of higher education with the official recognition of their national governments. The first call for Alfa project proposals is currently open. Proposals should fall under one of the collaborative research themes listed below: The following non-exhaustive list of areas for collaboration have been identified by CESAER and Program COLUMBUS of the Association of European Universities (CRE). [List deleted. Collaborative research themes include software engineering, among others.] [For more info, email fase-request@d.umn.edu with subject SEND ALFA] A------------------------------------------------------- From: Linda Ibrahim Subject: CSEE'95 Reminder There's still time to register! Conference on Software Engineering Education March 29 through April 1, 1995 New Orleans, Louisiana You are invited to participate in the 8th Conference on Software Engineering Education (CSEE). Educators, trainers, managers, and administrators gather together to exchange ideas about how to enhance software engineering training and education. The CSEE attracts international participation and attendees come from industry, academia, and government. Our purpose is to influence educational directions, stimulate new approaches, promote collaboration, and generate interactive exchanges among all educational stakeholders. The program includes: keynote speakers Richard E. Fairley, Ray O. Waddoups, and Miriam F. Browning; refereed papers; panel discussions; free tutorials; workshops; and facilitated discussion groups. There will be opportunities to organize additional meetings, workshops, or birds-of-a-feather sessions while you are there. A variety of educational materials will be on display. Proceedings will be published by Springer-Verlag and distributed to each attendee. [For more info, email fase-request@d.umn.edu with subject SEND CSEE95] A------------------------------------------------------- From: holzmuel@kafka.informatik.uni-stuttgart.de (Bernd Holzmueller) Subject: AdaBasis - Ada Software Repository for WWW We are pleased to announce **** AdaBasis **** A Library of Reusable Ada Software Components The repository consists of about 560 MB public domain source code and documents, mainly taken from the Public Ada Library (PAL). The software has been classified and is presented in a hierarchical manner, separated in different application domains, and, for some domains, with an additional multi-faceted searching facility. Our intent is to provide students, teachers and researchers a large collection of reusable Ada components and systems for use in language and software engineering courses. We plan to enlarge the library in the future and would welcome your free public domain contributions. AdaBasis is reachable by the World Wide Web under URL http://www.informatik.uni-stuttgart.de/ifi/ps/ada-software/ada-software.html Erhard Ploedereder Bernd Holzmueller Breitwiesenstrasse 20-22 Programming Language Group 70565 Stuttgart, Germany Computer Science Department University of Stuttgart, Germany Fax: +49 711-7816-380 email: adabasis@informatik.uni-stuttgart.de A------------------------------------------------------- From: wmyers@encore.ncren.net (Belmont Abbey College) Subject: Sixth Annual South Central Small College Computing Conference South Central Small College Computing Conference Program Shreveport, Louisiana April 7-8, 1995 Conference Theme: In Support of Computing Paper Topics: Graduate Research Hypercard / Visual BASIC Literacy OOP and Software Engineering Undergraduate Research Miscellaneous Panels: Experiences with RISC and UNIX labs Language Choices for a first CS programming course Tutorials: GIS Programming with Microsoft Foundation Classes and Visual C++ Visual BASIC Special Presentation: The Desktop Computer -- Its History and Future Mr. Bill Myers Membership Secretary Consortium for Computing in Small Colleges Department of Computer Studies Belmont Abbey College Belmont, NC 28012-2795 [For more info, email fase-request@d.umn.edu with subject SEND CSCSCCC95] A------------------------------------------------ From: ltighe@acslink.net.au (Leon Tighe) Subject: CFP: 1995 Asia-Pacific Software Engineering Conference Call For Papers The 1995 Asia-Pacific Software Engineering Conference: APSEC'95 (incorporating ASWEC'95) December 6-9, 1995 Brisbane, Australia Sponsored by Australian Computer Society in co-operation with IREE and IEAust The conference will address the following principal themes, but any topic relevant to the field of software engineering will be considered: Requirements Engineering, Specification, Analysis and Design, Testing, Maintenance, CASE, Software Metrics, Software Process, Reuse, Reverse Engineering, Object Orientation, Re-engineering, Distributed Systems, Domain Modelling, Formal Methods, Reliability, Information System Development, Project Management, Quality Assurance, Education. APSEC'95 Program Committee solicits original technical papers. All contributions will be reviewed and evaluated based on originality, technical quality, and relevance to Software Engineering. Industrial experience papers or practical papers are welcome. Technical papers should be sent by April 30, 1995 [For more info, email fase-request@d.umn.edu with subject SEND APSEC95] A------------------------------------------------------- From: chengb@cps.msu.edu Subject: WIFT95 Reminder The 1995 Workshop on Industrial-Strength Formal Specification Techniques WIFT'95 The Sheraton Inn, Boca Raton, Florida, USA April 5-8, 1995 Just a reminder that the WIFT'95 early registration deadline is March 10. See the WIFT WWW page (http://www.cse.fau.edu/WIFT/). It can also be obtained by anonymously ftp'ing to shark.cse.fau.edu (/pub/WIFT95/WIFT-reg.ps.Z). A------------------------------------------------------- From: S.Alexander@ulst.ac.uk (Sylvia Alexander) Subject: CTI Computing workshop on Software Metrics CTI Computing Workshop Software Metrics in the Computing Curricula Coventry University - Friday 31 March 1995 The Computers in Teaching Initiative Centre for Computing at the University of Ulster in collaboration with South Bank University is holding a 1-day seminar at Coventry University on Software Metrics in the Computing Curriculum on Friday 31 March 1995. This seminar will include presentations from both industry and academia giving two different perspectives on what should be included in an undergraduate metrics module and how it might be taught. South Bank University will also demonstrate and discuss some of the resources for teaching and learning metrics including METKIT and QUALMS. The seminar will be of interest to all who have responsibility for teaching or developing courses on software metrics in Higher Education. [For more info, email fase-request@d.umn.edu with subject SEND METRICS95] A------------------------------------------------------- From: CSBURNST%IITVAX1.BITNET@VX.CIS.UMN.EDU Subject: Midwest AI and Cognitive Society Conference MAICSS'95 The Midwest Artificial Intelligence and Cognitive Society Conference will be held on April 21-23 at the Touch of Nature in Carbondale Illinois. The conference will cover various topics in artificial intelligence many of which will be of interest to software engineers. The conference fee for students is very affordable, and the Touch of Nature is a beautiful park with a lake and a heavily wooded area. The Conference Chair is Prof. Kenneth Danhof of Southern Illinois University; The Program Chair is Prof. Martha Evens of Illinois Institute of Technology. For registration information contact: Ms. Shelly Gimenez Dept. of Continuing Education Southern Illinois University Carbondale, IL 62901-6705 Phone: 618-536-7751 Fax: 618-453-5680 A------------------------------------------------------- From: icce95@iti.gov.sg Subject: CFP: ICCE 1995 CALL FOR PARTICIPATION I C C E 95 INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON COMPUTERS IN EDUCATION 5 - 8 December, 1995 Raffles City Convention Centre S I N G A P O R E Sponsored by Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education Asia-Pacific Chapter (AACE APC) The ICCE conference series is a bi-annual event which is held in an Asia-Pacific country. The first conference ICCE 93 was held in Taipei, Taiwan during 15-17 December 1993. ICCE 95 is the second in the series of meetings and will be organized under the umbrella of the AACE Asia-Pacific Chapter which was formed after ICCE 93. ICCE 95 will focus on a broad spectrum of inter-disciplinary research topics concerned with theories, technologies and practices of applying computers in education. It aims to provide a forum for scientific interchange among educators, cognitive scientists, computer scientists, and practitioners throughout the world, and especially from the Asia- Pacific region. The conference will be concerned with the current state of the art, and will serve as a reference basis for future research as well as the real- world deployment of educational technologies. There will be tutorials and invited talks, and demonstrations of working systems, prototypes and selected commercial products. ICCE 95 is supported by a strong international program committee that ensures full refereeing of all submitted papers. A unique feature of ICCE 95 is an Applications Track in which solicits papers from Singapore and other Asia-Pacific countries that present the best practices in the use of information technology for education. We invite you to attend the ICCE 95 conference and submit proposals for papers and demonstrations. All proposals are reviewed for inclusion in the conference program. [For more info, email fase-request@d.umn.edu with subject SEND ICCE95] A------------------------------------------------------- From: paseconf@westminster.ac.uk (Tracy Hall and Colin Myers) Subject: Professional Awareness in Software Engineering (PASE'96) Professional Awareness in Software Engineering First Westminster Conference Royal Society, London 1st-2nd February 1996 First Announcement and Call for Papers Within the computing industry, the need for professionalism has never been greater. This conference has grown from the increasing concern that software engineers should be better equipped to meet the challenges of today's working practices and user assumptions. More than ever before, it is essential that software engineers adopt a professional approach to deal with both technical advances and structural changes in the workplace. Many of the practices in the software world are seen to harken back to the `Dark Ages' of computing, and software engineering often has a poor image compared to other professions. However, the demands are often greater on software engineers in that the changes they encounter are more frequent and more radical. Thus, every few years we see: technical 'silver bullets', for example, object orientation; structural alterations, such as decentralization and outsourcing; and perceptual shifts, including higher expectations regarding deadlines, giving value-for-money and the role and control of information within industry. Therefore, the aim of this conference is to help determine those attributes that help a software engineer succeed as a professional. That is, for software engineers to behave responsibly, in a technically competent manner and according to a professional code of conduct, and so improve quality and improve user confidence. TOPICS The Structure of the Software Industry as a Profession Working Practices Ethical and Legal Responsibilities and Liabilities FEATURED SPEAKERS Tom DeMarco, Fred Brooks, Frank Bott, Elizabeth France [For more info, email fase-request@d.umn.edu with subject SEND PASE95] A------------------------------------------------------- From: info@source.asset.com Subject: Teaching Ada in Real-Time Software Systems Asset Source for Software Engineering Technology, ASSET, is a United States Department of Defense project to promote the reuse of computer software and software-related products. ASSET maintains a reuse library based in Morgantown, West Virginia. We offer free access to a variety of software artifacts, which include Ada source code and reuse oriented documents. The following is the abstract from a new asset that has been added to the ADA COURSEWARE Collection. This collection is being expanded through cooperation with West Virginia University. ASSET_A_805 Teaching Ada In A Real-Time Software Systems Course This report presents the results of a project to design and develop a senior level course in which the Ada programming language will be used to teach real-time software systems development. The lessons learned/advances made as a result of this research effort are included in the following sections of this final report: * The development of a laboratory to support the course. (DARPA.DAP, CHART1.DWG, CHART2.DWG, CHART3.DWG, CHART4.DWG, CHART5.DWG, CHART6.DWG, CHART7.DWG, TRAIN.DWG) * Class information. (CLSSINFO.DAP) * Text selection process. (TEXTBOOK.DAP) * Course syllabus including course outline and prerequisites. (SYLLABUS.DAP) * Running programs in HAPSE (Harris Ada Programming Support Environment.) (HAPSE.DAP) * Topics on Ada Sequential Programming. (ADATOPIC.DAP) * An example of handling interrupts in Ada. (INTERRUPT.DAP) * Feasible student projects, including: * Background Irrigation System * Multiple Keyboard System * Model Railroad Projects (six) (PROJLIST.DAP, REALPRB1.DAP, REALPROB2.DAP, REALPRB3.DAP) The sections listed above are contained in the files listed in parentheses after each section. Files listed with the extension of .dwg are AutoCad drawing files. All other files are WordPerfect files. Each WordPerfect file has a matching ASCII version with the extension .asc. ASSET services are available free to all software practitioners. Background information about ASSET, an account application, and a hyper-text catalog of our holdings can be found at the URL http://source.asset.com/. Information can also be obtained by sending e-mail to info@source.asset.com, FAXing to (304) 594-3951, or calling (304)-594-3954. A------------------------------------------------------- From: doriang@microsoft.com (Dorian Garson) Subject: VIDEO: New ISO-backed Software Engineering Life Cycle Standard Videotape Available: New ISO-backed Software Engineering Life Cycle Standard Stan Magee of Software Engineering Process Technology gave a presentation on the new ISO/IEC Standard 12207 at the February meeting of the Washington Software Association Quality Assurance Special Interest Group. The videotape of the presentation is now available. The tapes will be sold at the US$25 introductory price only through March 9, 1995. After then, the price will be $45. More information about the talk is attached below. Here's the ordering information: - There is a shipping charge of $5 within the United States. Outside the US, please include $10 per copy. - Washington State residents must include $2.46 sales tax per copy. - Proceeds from the tape sales are going to the Washington Software Association, a non-profit organization. MBC Video, Inc. is handling the production and sales of the tape. - If you have a question about billing, please call Michel Carter at MBC Video, Inc. If you have any other questions, please E-mail James Tierney: "jamesti@microsoft.com". - Mail your order with payment (checks or money orders) to: MBC Video, Inc. 14415 N.E. 64th Street Redmond, WA 98052 Credit cards are also welcome. Please call (206) 885-7934 to order using your credit card. For each copy, please include: - $32.46 per copy within Washington state, or $30 per copy within the United States, outside of Washington state, or US$35 per copy outside the United States - Your name, telephone number, and address. - An additional US$30 for international conversions. Please specify format required. ------------ New ISO-backed SE Life Cycle Standard ISO/IEC Standard 12207 is the first international Software Engineering Process Life Cycle standard. It specifically defines the needed processes, activities, and tasks required to produce large, complex software systems. This standard is anticipated to be one of the building blocks for the international software trade. The deployment of this standard is well underway within the international software community Mr. Magee is president of Software Engineering Process Technology which specializes in the implementation of software process technology for U.S. and international corporations and organizations. Mr. Magee is vice chair of the United States SC-7 Technical Advisory Group, which determines the U.S. position on international Software Engineering Standards. He is also co-author of the book "Software Engineering Standards and Specifications, Global Publications, 1994." Mr. Magee has over 34 years of experience in the software field and is considered an expert in the area of software engineering standards work. Expect to walk away with a number of ideas for your particular process improvement effort! E------------------------------------------------------------------- FASE Volume 05 Number 07 Send newsletter articles to fase-submit@d.umn.edu or fase@d.umn.edu Send requests to add, delete, or modify a subscription to fase-request@d.umn.edu Send problem reports, returned mail, or other correspondence about this newsletter to fase-owner@d.umn.edu or kpierce@d.umn.edu You can retrieve back issues by anonymous FTP from from ricis.cl.uh.edu. You can access them through WWW at URL http://ricis.cl.uh.edu/FASE/ Keith Pierce, Editor Laurie Werth, Advisory Committee Department of Computer Science Dept. of Computer Science University of Minnesota, Duluth Taylor Hall 2.124 Duluth, MN 55812-2496 University of Texas at Austin Telephone: (218) 726-7194 Austin, Texas 78712 Fax: (218) 726-6360 Telephone: (512) 471-9535 Email: kpierce@d.umn.edu Fax: (512)471-8885 Email: lwerth@cs.utexas.edu David Eichmann, FASE Archivist Asst. Prof. / RBSE Director of R & D Web: http://ricis.cl.uh.edu/eichmann/ Software Engineering Program Phone: (713) 283-3875 University of Houston - Clear Lake fax: (713) 283-3810 Box 113, 2700 Bay Area Blvd. Email: eichmann@rbse.jsc.nasa.gov Houston, TX 77058 or: eichmann@cl.uh.edu RBSE on the Web: http://rbse.jsc.nasa.gov/eichmann/rbse.html