Note: Ada is misspelled in the introduction – apologies for the subtitle slip.
Ada’s Resurgence
The Ada programming language was once as widely used as C++ in the 1990s before slipping out of mainstream use in the 2000s. Today, safety and reliability are once again top priorities in industries such as aerospace & defence and automotive. This has created the perfect conditions for Ada to return.
What Makes Ada Unique
While its structure resembles C++, Java, or Rust, Ada introduces strong specification features that enforce constraints directly in the source code. This makes the language self-checking and allows for formal proofs of correctness. The result is code that can demonstrate the absence of critical defects such as buffer overflows.
Where Ada is Used Today
The Ada programming language is most prevalent in environments where failure cannot be tolerated. Aerospace, defence, and increasingly industrial and automotive systems rely on Ada’s guarantees of safety and security. As embedded software grows in size and complexity, these strengths are becoming more valuable.
AdaCore’s Role
AdaCore has ensured Ada’s continued relevance by maintaining an open-source compiler and providing additional industrial-grade tools. Engineers can begin experimenting with Ada through free resources, while companies needing certification or long-term support can access AdaCore’s extended offerings, including target-specific toolchains and compliance with safety standards.
Nvidia and the Reference Process
A major boost for Ada came when Nvidia adopted SPARK for GPU firmware and automotive systems. The company published an ISO 26262 reference process, effectively providing a recipe for developing the highest-criticality automotive software with Ada . This step is opening the door for broader adoption of the Ada programming language in commercial sectors.
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