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Flying With Python (Strong versus Weak Typing)

Mike Silva snarflemike at yahoo.com
Tue Mar 11 16:08:20 EST 2003 
Alex Martelli <aleax at aleax.it> wrote in message news:<hkiba.49303$zo2.1483266 at news2.tin.it>...
> ....isn't it obvious that it's totally
> irrelevant to the system's overall safety whether the compiler has
> performed the further smattering of semantically puny "verifications"
> allowed by mandatory-declaration, stating-typing languages?
> 
> Static typing makes it easier for the compiler to generate fast
> code, and (depending also on other issues) may slightly enhance
> programmer productivity by catching a small percentage of errors
> a bit earlier than testing would catch them -- that's all.  It has
> no real bearing on safety issues for life-critical software.

Is a factor of 100 difference in error rates of certified, fielded
aviation software relevant?

http://www.sparkada.com/downloads/Mar2002Amey.pdf

(2nd page, 3rd column, re UK MoD analysis of DO-178B Level A software)

Language (including, but not limited to, static typing) definitely
makes a difference.

Mike
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