This guide introduces the Ada programming language for experienced C++ or Java developers. It covers all core Ada concepts through numerous side-by-side code examples that map constructs between the languages. The document helps readers rapidly develop a working knowledge of Ada by leveraging their existing skills in C++ or Java. It covers fundamentals as well as advanced topics like contracts, generics, concurrency and object-oriented programming.
Recommended for: Intermediate to advanced programmers with experience in C++ or Java who are interested in learning the Ada programming language. This course assumes a solid background in object-oriented and imperative programming, and provides a thorough introduction to the key features and concepts of Ada.
You will:
- Gain a deep understanding of the Ada programming language, including its syntax, strong type system, functions and procedures, packages, object-oriented programming, and more.
- Learn how Ada differs from C++ and Java, and how to leverage Ada’s modular design, contract-based programming, and other advanced features.
- Explore topics like generics, exceptions, concurrency (tasks and protected objects), and low-level programming in Ada.
- Discover how Ada can be used for embedded systems, safety-critical applications, and other domains where reliability and robustness are paramount.
- Develop the skills to design and implement clean, maintainable, and formally verifiable Ada code.
- Understand how to interface Ada with C and other programming languages.
- Learn about the SPARK subset of Ada and how it can be used for formal verification and proving program correctness.
Detailed Overview
The document provides a comprehensive introduction to Ada designed for engineers proficient in C++ or Java. It features in-depth explanations of language elements from basic data types and control structures to concepts like exceptions and object orientation. Numerous code samples clearly illustrate equivalents between Ada, C++ and Java syntax to minimize the learning curve. The guide emphasizes both commonalities and variations between the languages to enable familiar C++/Java techniques to directly transfer. It examines each Ada concept through the lens of familiar languages to efficiently build proficiency. With its holistic approach allowing existing knowledge to apply directly, experienced programmers can confidently explore and evaluate Ada’s suitability for safety-critical domains requiring ultra-high assurance. It serves as the definitive starting point for experienced developers to rapidly learn this statically typed systems programming language.
Citation
Quentin Ochem. Ada for the C++ or Java Developer. AdaCore, 2024. https://learn.adacore.com/courses/Ada_For_The_CPP_Java_Developer/index.html.
Licensing
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license. The full text of the license is available at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.
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