Embedded Systems Design Europe - June/July 2008 - (Page 33)

open source approach is essential to open source development. Indeed, here at AdaCore we have generally preferred the cathedral model when it comes to developing our commercial products. The version of the Ada compiler and tools that we distribute to companies like Boeing (for use on the new 787 airplane), and Eurocontrol (which builds air trafﬁc control systems for Europe), are very carefully controlled by us. This does not mean that contributions from a volunteer open source community are impossible or unwelcome, and in fact we make versions of our technology available at sites such as gcc, where contributions are encouraged. These versions might not be suitable for mission-critical use, but allow free ranging innovation, and where appropriate, we can adopt suggested improvements after careful vetting. Open source may have begun as a movement founded on free software but it has come a long way. The stereotype of open source developers having no business understanding or acumen is long gone. Indeed in many areas, such as for languages like Ada the software itself was designed and developed to meet stringent, safety-critical needs. You only have to look at where Ada and other open source software is being used to realise it is secure. iFacts, the U.K.’s new air trafﬁc control system, the U.S. Air Force’s Hercules C-130 modernisation programme, pilot ejector seats for Martin-Baker and the refusure the only way that the public can have conﬁdence is if the professional community can examine the code and proclaim that it meets the highest standards. The current situation is that this community of experts, relying on reverse engineering, ﬁnds lots of errors and undermines any conﬁdence we could have that the code is correct. Of course companies that What is obvious invest time and money into deis that veloping proprietary software do we can’t need to make sure that their rights go on as are protected – otherwise why before will they bother creating them in – Dewar. the ﬁrst place? However in most cases, the real inventions are at the hardware level, where traditional protection such as patents (which require full disclosure) operate effectively. Perhaps innovative forms of copyright protection can provide adequate protection for see how it works in practice. In the US software, though in most cases I susan extreme example of this is Sequoia pect that such protection is not really Voting Systems, which refuses to let needed. If everyone were forced to anyone examine the software inside its disclose their software, then this kind machines on the grounds that it is proof cross-learning would actually beneﬁt prietary, and threatens lawsuits against competition and innovation. anyone trying to carry out such examiWhat is obvious is that we can’t go nations. Given that this is an essential on as before. Proprietary development part of the democratic system how do can hide the very vulnerabilities that we have the assurance that it is operating correctly and without the possibility hackers can exploit – and no one will be any the wiser. Open source combines of being subverted? The short answer the peer review and stringent restricis that we don’t – and have no way of tions that today’s high security systems ﬁnding out if things change. need if they are to help protect us where Instead of relying on secrecy, we software is critical. must instead achieve code that is demonstrably error free and safe from attack. The only way to achieve this is to Robert Dewar is President and CEO of allow general public inspection, and for AdaCore (www.adacore.com). elling boom system for the EADS CASA A330 refuelling tanker aircraft are all developed in Ada and meet stringent safety and security considerations. Many large companies are dedicated to the idea that they must protect their proprietary software – even if it is in the public interest to be able to http://www.adacore.com http://www.syslogic.com http://www.syslogic.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Embedded Systems Design Europe - June/July 2008

Embedded Systems Design Europe - June 2008 Contents Work in Progress to Define Compact PCI Plus Power.org Demonstrates New Tools Project Supports Multi-core System Programming Altium Links Electronic to Mechanical Design PLDs Look to Cut Power Budget and Costs Project to Provide Coverage Analysis Tool Microsoft Details Windows Embedded Update Cover Feature: Leveraging Virtual Hardware Platforms for Software Allocating Memory in MATLAB-to-C Code MDD & IDEs: Making the Twain Meet in Embedded System Designs Debugging Mixed Signal Designs for Infrequent & Random Events Why Open Source is the Natural Choice for High-security Systems Bringing the Benefits of Low Power CPUs to Modular Design New Products Advertising Contacts

Embedded Systems Design Europe - June/July 2008

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