JOVIAL
Encyclopedia
JOVIAL is a high-order computer
programming language
similar to ALGOL
, but specialized for the development of embedded system
s (specialized computer systems designed to perform one or a few dedicated functions[1], usually embedded as part of a complete device including mechanical parts).
JOVIAL is an acronym for "Jules Own Version of the International Algorithmic Language." The "International Algorithmic Language" was a name originally proposed for ALGOL 58
. It was developed to compose software for the electronics of military aircraft by Jules Schwartz in 1959.
During the 1960s JOVIAL was a part of the US Military L-project series, in particular 465L (the SACCS project), due to a lack of real-time languages available. 95% of the SACCS project, managed by ITT with software primarily written by SDC, was written in JOVIAL. The software project took two years and fewer than 1400 programmer years, less than half of the equivalent time in the SAGE
L-project.
During the late 1970s and early 1980s, the U.S. Air Force adopted a standardized CPU
, the 1750A
, and subsequent JOVIAL programs were built for that processor. JOVIAL was standardized during 1973 with MIL-STD-1589 and was revised during 1984 with MIL-STD-1589C. It is still much used to update and maintain software on older military vehicles and aircraft. There are three dialects in common use: J3, J3B-2, and J73.
, JOVIAL is no longer maintained and distributed by the USAF JOVIAL Program Office (JPO). Software previously distributed by the JPO is still available through commercial resources at Software Engineering Associates, Inc. (SEA) as are other combinations of host/target processors including WinX, Linux
, Apple IBOOK, SPARC
, VAX
, 1750A
, PowerPC
, TI-9989, Zilog Z800x, Motorola 6800x and IBM 360/370/z.
Notable systems using JOVIAL include the Milstar Communications Satellite, Advanced Cruise Missile
, B-52
, B-1B, B-2
bombers, C-130
, C-141
, and C-17
transport aircraft
, F-111, F-15
, F-16
(prior to Block 50), and F-117
fighter aircraft, LANTIRN
, U-2
aircraft, E-3 Sentry
AWACS aircraft, Navy Aegis
cruisers, Army Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS), Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, F100
, F117
, and F119
jet engines, the NORAD air defense & control system (Hughes HME-5118ME system), the NATO Air Defence Ground Environment (NADGE) system and RL-10 rocket engines. Airborne radar
systems with embedded JOVIAL software include the APG-70, APG-71 and APG-73.
The National Airspace System
(NAS), the flight data processing program at the heart of the US and UK Air Traffic Control System, uses JOVIAL.
As most software implemented in JOVIAL is mission critical, and maintenance is getting more difficult, conversion of JOVIAL code to new platforms is becoming more common. JOVIAL rehosting and retargeting is currently done by Software Engineering Associates, Inc. (SEA). Some of the JOVIAL mission software for the B-2 has been converted to C.
Computer
A computer is a programmable machine designed to sequentially and automatically carry out a sequence of arithmetic or logical operations. The particular sequence of operations can be changed readily, allowing the computer to solve more than one kind of problem...
programming language
Programming language
A programming language is an artificial language designed to communicate instructions to a machine, particularly a computer. Programming languages can be used to create programs that control the behavior of a machine and/or to express algorithms precisely....
similar to ALGOL
ALGOL
ALGOL is a family of imperative computer programming languages originally developed in the mid 1950s which greatly influenced many other languages and became the de facto way algorithms were described in textbooks and academic works for almost the next 30 years...
, but specialized for the development of embedded system
Embedded system
An embedded system is a computer system designed for specific control functions within a larger system. often with real-time computing constraints. It is embedded as part of a complete device often including hardware and mechanical parts. By contrast, a general-purpose computer, such as a personal...
s (specialized computer systems designed to perform one or a few dedicated functions[1], usually embedded as part of a complete device including mechanical parts).
JOVIAL is an acronym for "Jules Own Version of the International Algorithmic Language." The "International Algorithmic Language" was a name originally proposed for ALGOL 58
ALGOL 58
ALGOL 58, originally known as IAL, is one of the family of ALGOL computer programming languages. It was an early compromise design soon superseded by ALGOL 60...
. It was developed to compose software for the electronics of military aircraft by Jules Schwartz in 1959.
During the 1960s JOVIAL was a part of the US Military L-project series, in particular 465L (the SACCS project), due to a lack of real-time languages available. 95% of the SACCS project, managed by ITT with software primarily written by SDC, was written in JOVIAL. The software project took two years and fewer than 1400 programmer years, less than half of the equivalent time in the SAGE
Semi Automatic Ground Environment
The Semi-Automatic Ground Environment was an automated control system for tracking and intercepting enemy bomber aircraft used by NORAD from the late 1950s into the 1980s...
L-project.
During the late 1970s and early 1980s, the U.S. Air Force adopted a standardized CPU
Central processing unit
The central processing unit is the portion of a computer system that carries out the instructions of a computer program, to perform the basic arithmetical, logical, and input/output operations of the system. The CPU plays a role somewhat analogous to the brain in the computer. The term has been in...
, the 1750A
1750A
MIL-STD-1750A or 1750A is the formal definition of a 16-bit computer instruction set architecture , including both required and optional components, as described by the military standard document MIL-STD-1750A ....
, and subsequent JOVIAL programs were built for that processor. JOVIAL was standardized during 1973 with MIL-STD-1589 and was revised during 1984 with MIL-STD-1589C. It is still much used to update and maintain software on older military vehicles and aircraft. There are three dialects in common use: J3, J3B-2, and J73.
, JOVIAL is no longer maintained and distributed by the USAF JOVIAL Program Office (JPO). Software previously distributed by the JPO is still available through commercial resources at Software Engineering Associates, Inc. (SEA) as are other combinations of host/target processors including WinX, Linux
Linux
Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
, Apple IBOOK, SPARC
SPARC
SPARC is a RISC instruction set architecture developed by Sun Microsystems and introduced in mid-1987....
, VAX
VAX
VAX was an instruction set architecture developed by Digital Equipment Corporation in the mid-1970s. A 32-bit complex instruction set computer ISA, it was designed to extend or replace DEC's various Programmed Data Processor ISAs...
, 1750A
1750A
MIL-STD-1750A or 1750A is the formal definition of a 16-bit computer instruction set architecture , including both required and optional components, as described by the military standard document MIL-STD-1750A ....
, PowerPC
PowerPC
PowerPC is a RISC architecture created by the 1991 Apple–IBM–Motorola alliance, known as AIM...
, TI-9989, Zilog Z800x, Motorola 6800x and IBM 360/370/z.
Notable systems using JOVIAL include the Milstar Communications Satellite, Advanced Cruise Missile
AGM-129 ACM
* Missile of the same class** Ra'ad ** TAURUS KEPD 350 ** Storm Shadow -Notes:# Alleged violations of the Antideficiency Act in the Air Force’s procurement of advanced cruise missiles.FILE B-255831, Office of the General Counsel, United States General Accounting Office.# Union Calls for Strike by...
, B-52
B-52 Stratofortress
The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress is a long-range, subsonic, jet-powered strategic bomber operated by the United States Air Force since the 1950s. The B-52 was designed and built by Boeing, who have continued to provide maintainence and upgrades to the aircraft in service...
, B-1B, B-2
B-2 Spirit
The Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit is an American heavy bomber with low observable stealth technology designed to penetrate dense anti-aircraft defenses and deploy both conventional and nuclear weapons. The bomber has a crew of two and can drop up to eighty -class JDAM GPS-guided bombs, or sixteen ...
bombers, C-130
C-130 Hercules
The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and built originally by Lockheed, now Lockheed Martin. Capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings, the C-130 was originally designed as a troop, medical evacuation, and cargo transport...
, C-141
C-141 Starlifter
The Lockheed C-141 Starlifter was a military strategic airlifter in service with the Air Mobility Command of the United States Air Force...
, and C-17
C-17 Globemaster III
The Boeing C-17 Globemaster III is a large military transport aircraft. Developed for the United States Air Force from the 1980s to the early 1990s by McDonnell Douglas, the C-17 is used for rapid strategic airlift of troops and cargo to main operating bases or forward operating bases throughout...
transport aircraft
Military transport aircraft
Military transport aircraft are typically fixed and rotary wing cargo aircraft which are used to deliver troops, weapons and other military equipment by a variety of methods to any area of military operations around the surface of the planet, usually outside of the commercial flight routes in...
, F-111, F-15
F-15 Eagle
The McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle is a twin-engine, all-weather tactical fighter designed by McDonnell Douglas to gain and maintain air superiority in aerial combat. It is considered among the most successful modern fighters with over 100 aerial combat victories with no losses in dogfights...
, F-16
F-16 Fighting Falcon
The General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon is a multirole jet fighter aircraft originally developed by General Dynamics for the United States Air Force . Designed as an air superiority day fighter, it evolved into a successful all-weather multirole aircraft. Over 4,400 aircraft have been built since...
(prior to Block 50), and F-117
F-117 Nighthawk
The Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk was a single-seat, twin-engine stealth ground-attack aircraft formerly operated by the United States Air Force . The F-117A's first flight was in 1981, and it achieved initial operating capability status in October 1983...
fighter aircraft, LANTIRN
LANTIRN
Low Altitude Navigation and Targeting Infrared for Night, or LANTIRN, is a combined navigation and targeting pod system for use on the USAF's premier fighter aircraft — the F-15E Strike Eagle and F-16 Fighting Falcon...
, U-2
Lockheed U-2
The Lockheed U-2, nicknamed "Dragon Lady", is a single-engine, very high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft operated by the United States Air Force and previously flown by the Central Intelligence Agency . It provides day and night, very high-altitude , all-weather intelligence gathering...
aircraft, E-3 Sentry
E-3 Sentry
The Boeing E-3 Sentry is an airborne warning and control system developed by Boeing as the prime contractor. Derived from the Boeing 707, it provides all-weather surveillance, command, control and communications, and is used by the United States Air Force , NATO, Royal Air Force , French Air Force...
AWACS aircraft, Navy Aegis
Aegis combat system
The Aegis Combat System is an integrated naval weapons system developed by the Missile and Surface Radar Division of RCA, and now produced by Lockheed Martin...
cruisers, Army Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS), Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, F100
Pratt & Whitney F100
-External links:* * *...
, F117
Pratt & Whitney PW2000
|-See also:-External links:...
, and F119
Pratt & Whitney F119
|-See also:-External links:* *...
jet engines, the NORAD air defense & control system (Hughes HME-5118ME system), the NATO Air Defence Ground Environment (NADGE) system and RL-10 rocket engines. Airborne radar
Radar
Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...
systems with embedded JOVIAL software include the APG-70, APG-71 and APG-73.
The National Airspace System
National Airspace System
The National Airspace System of the United States is one of the most complex aviation systems in the world — consisting of thousands of people, procedures, facilities, and pieces of equipment — that enables safe and expeditious air travel in the United States and over large portions of the world's...
(NAS), the flight data processing program at the heart of the US and UK Air Traffic Control System, uses JOVIAL.
As most software implemented in JOVIAL is mission critical, and maintenance is getting more difficult, conversion of JOVIAL code to new platforms is becoming more common. JOVIAL rehosting and retargeting is currently done by Software Engineering Associates, Inc. (SEA). Some of the JOVIAL mission software for the B-2 has been converted to C.
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