Ada (programming language) facts for kids
| Paradigm | Multi-paradigm |
|---|---|
| Designed by |
|
| First appeared | 1980 |
| Typing discipline | static, strong, safe, nominative |
| OS | Cross-platform |
| Filename extensions | .adb .ads |
| Major implementations | |
| AdaCore GNAT, Green Hills Software Optimising Ada 95 Compiler, PTC, Inc. PTC ApexAda and PTC ObjectAda, DDC-I Score | |
| Dialects | |
| SPARK, Ravenscar profile | |
| Influenced by | |
| ALGOL 68, Pascal, C++ (Ada 95), Smalltalk (Ada 95), Java (Ada 2005), Eiffel (Ada 2012) | |
| Influenced | |
| C++, Chapel, Eiffel, Java, Nim, PL/SQL, PL/pgSQL, Ruby, Rust, Seed7, SQL/PSM, VHDL | |
Ada is a special programming language used by computers. It's a lot like another language called Pascal. Ada is designed to make computer programs very safe and reliable. This is super important for systems where mistakes could be dangerous.
Ada is an international standard, meaning it's recognized and used worldwide. It was created by a team led by Jean Ichbiah for the United States Department of Defense (DoD) between 1977 and 1983. The DoD wanted one main language instead of the many different ones they were using. Ada was named after Ada Lovelace, who lived from 1815 to 1852. She is often called the very first computer programmer!
Contents
What is a Programming Language?
A programming language is like a set of instructions you give to a computer. Computers don't understand human languages. So, we use programming languages to tell them exactly what to do, step by step.
Why is Ada Used for Safety?
Ada has special features that help prevent errors in computer programs. This makes it a great choice for things like:
- Controlling airplanes
- Managing power plants
- Running railway systems
In these situations, even a tiny mistake in the code could cause big problems. Ada helps programmers write very dependable software.
Hello World in Ada
A "Hello, world!" program is a simple program that just shows the words "Hello, world!" on the screen. It's often the first program people learn to write in a new language. Here's how it looks in Ada:
with Ada.Text_IO;
procedure Hello is
begin
-- output of Text "Hello, world!".
Ada.Text_IO.Put_Line("Hello, world!");
end Hello;This code tells the computer to use a part of Ada that handles text (Ada.Text_IO). Then, it tells the computer to display the message "Hello, world!" on a new line.
Who Was Ada Lovelace?
Ada Lovelace was a brilliant mathematician and writer. She is famous for her work on Charles Babbage's early mechanical computer, the Analytical Engine. She wrote notes that are considered the first algorithm designed to be carried out by a machine. This is why she's often called the first computer programmer.
See Also
In Spanish: Ada (lenguaje de programación) para niños
