TRW's Ada process model for incremental development of large software systems

TRW's Ada Process Model has proven to be key to the Command Center Processing and Display System-Replacement (CCPDS-R) project's success to data in developing over 3000,000 lines of Ada source code executing in a distributed VAX VMS environment. The Ada Process Model is, in simplest terms, a uniform application of incremental development coupled with a demonstration-based approach to design review for continuous and insightful thread testing and risk management. The use of Ada as the life-cycle language for design evolution provides the vehicle for uniformity and a basis for consistent software progress metrics. This paper provides an overview of the techniques and benefits of the Ada Process Model and describes some of the experience and lessons learned to data. The Command Center Processing and Display System-Replacement (CCPDS-R) project will provide display information used during emergency conferences by the National Command Authorities; Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff; Commander in Chief, North American Aerospace Command; Commander in Chief, United States Space Command; Commander in Chief, Strategic Air Command, and other nuclear-capable commanders in chief. It is the missile warning element of the new Integrated Tactical Warning/Attack Assessment system architecture developed by North American Aerospace Defense Command/Air Force Space Command.