With the technology industry being so fast paced, it is easy for even developers and programmers to tumble from the top of their game. Thankfully, a new online Ada Educational Resource can help them to stay ahead of the pack.

AdaCore University is a new free, web-based resource centre for anyone interested in learning about, or how to program in, the standards-based Ada programming language.

The new website offers pre-recorded courses and other learning materials on Ada, with access to AdaCore’s open source GNAT Ada toolset for writing and running example programs. It also utilises the latest in website design and learning tool features. Students at all levels of experience and expertise can begin writing programs quickly and can proceed at their own pace.

AdaCore University courses educate through examples, allowing students to see, understand and experiment with most features of the Ada programming language. Drawing on the experience and teaching credentials of Ada experts such as New York University Emeritus Professors and AdaCore founders Robert Dewar and Edmond Schonberg, the courses explain Ada’s technical concepts with insight into the rationale and usage of particular features.

The initial curriculum includes two courses:

  • Ada 001, "Overview" – a module that presents an overall picture of the language and that allows students to write small programs
  • Ada 002, "Basic Concepts" – the first in a formal series of Ada classes, introducing basic Ada programming concepts and allowing students to write programs based on these features

Both of these modules, and all future courses, provide sources and installation instructions for all learning materials and tools. The courses cover the latest version of the Ada language (Ada 2012), and students have access to AdaCore’s GNAT Ada development environment and programming tools. The AdaCore University website also hosts a number of technical papers on Ada, offering insight into particular aspects of the language’s design and usage.

AdaCore University is an ongoing, live project that will be expanded to include more advanced courses on Ada, and SPARK 2014 – an Ada-based programming language designed for high-integrity software (i.e., where reliability is essential and where safety and/or security certification may be required).

AdaCore University is endorsed by leading non-profit organisations dedicated to sustaining and promoting the Ada programming language, including the Ada Resource Association, SIGAda, Ada Deutschland, Ada France and Ada-Europe.