JOVIAL

JOVIAL is a high-order computer programming language similar to ALGOL, but specialized for the development of embedded systems.

JOVIAL stands for "Jules Own Version of the International Algorithmic Language." The "International Algorithmic Language" part of the name is from ALGOL, which was originally going to be called that (or IAL for short). It was developed to write software for the electronics of military aircraft by Jules Schwartz in 1959. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, the U.S. Air Force adopted a standardized CPU, the 1750A, and nowadays JOVIAL normally produces programs for that processor. JOVIAL was standardized in 1973 with MIL-STD-1589 and was revised in 1984 with MIL-STD-1589C. It is still widely used to update and maintain software on older military vehicles and aircraft. There are three dialects in common use: J3, J3B-2, and J73.

As of 2006, JOVIAL is still actively maintained and distributed by the USAF JOVIAL Integrated Tool Set (ITS) Program Office The program office helps organizations reuse their old, reliable JOVIAL software by rehosting and retargeting the software to newer, more modern computer platforms and environments. The Jovial Program Office (JPO) is still active, as of 2007. JOVIAL rehosting and retargeting is currently done by Software Engineering Associates, Inc. (SEA)

The current standard package (the "integrated tool set" or ITS) contains a compiler, a MIL-STD-1750A assembler, linker, and simulator/debugger. It is available hosted from (runs on) either a DEC VAX, Sun SPARC, or a PC running DOS or Windows. Versions are also available that target (produce executable code for) the Intel 80386 (and derivatives), MIPS R4000, AP-101, Zilog Z8002, and Motorola 68000 processors.

Notable systems using JOVIAL include the Advanced Cruise Missile, B-52, B-2 bombers, C-130, C-141, and C-17 transport aircraft, F-15, F-16 (prior to Block 50), and F-117 fighter aircraft, LANTIRN, U-2 aircraft, E-3 Sentry AWACS aircraft, Special Operations Forces, Navy Aegis cruisers, Army Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS), Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, F100, F117, F119 jet engines, the NORAD air defense & control system (Hughes HME-5118ME system) and RL-10 rocket engines.

The National Airspace System (NAS), the flight data processing program at the heart of the US and UK Air Traffic Control System, uses JOVIAL.

External links

• JOVIAL at HOPL "History of Programming Languages"
• Page from the JOVIAL Support Office
• Page on Jules Schwartz, including film of a humorous talk on the development of JOVIAL
• DODSSP U.S. Department of Defense Single Stock Point for Military Specifications, Standards and Related Publications
• USAF JOVIAL Program Office

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Last updated on Wednesday March 12, 2008 at 13:14:28 PDT (GMT -0700)
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