APPENDIX B

Directions Sheet

You will be presented with four different programs, one at a time. The first program will be a practice program to introduce to you the details of the work you will be performing. Each program is composed of a number of interacting (Small) Ada tasks. The first three programs have ONE and ONLY ONE bug (or problem) in it. Your objective is to locate and correct the bug so that these programs runs correctly. With the last program you will be asked to extend it so that it works with more tasks (the last program does not have any bug).

To begin, you will be given a sheet listing the name of the file containing the source code for the program and the instructions for compiling and running the program.

Your first step is to run the program and observe the output. Output will be with monitoring. You will be provided with scratch paper and may take whatever notes you wish. After you run a program you may activate the Automatic Debugger for Ada Tasks (ADAT) which will attempt to guide you in correcting the bug (or problem). ADAT may not be available for you. If that is the case just work with the tools you were given.

You will be given a hard copy of the source code, a syntax reference guide, and information on the monitoring the interpreter environment and on the Automatic Debugger for Ada Tasks (ADAT).

The program bug is located within the code highlighted with double strike (darker characters) on the hard copy of the program source code. The program bug is NOT syntax related in nature. (non-highlighted statements in the source code may NOT be changed. They are NOT the source of the program bug.)

The programs you will be debugging are very short and run very rapidly. If at any time the program appears to "hang" for greater than 10 seconds -- i.e. the screen remains unchanged for greater than 10 seconds -- you may assume the program error is causing the problem. Long delays will NOT be a result of code complexity. In order to exit from a "hung" program, press the Ctrl-Alt-Del keys (at the same time). If the "hung" persists, press the PC RESET bottom.