Overview - ISO/IEC 13719-3:1998 (PCTE Ada binding)
ISO/IEC 13719-3:1998 specifies the Ada programming language binding for the Portable Common Tool Environment (PCTE) abstract interfaces defined in ISO/IEC 13719-1. Published as the second edition (1998), this part defines how PCTE operations, datatypes and implementation limits are represented and used from Ada programs. It is intended for implementors who must provide a completely defined procedural Ada interface to PCTE services and for tool developers integrating PCTE functionality into Ada-based environments.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Binding strategy and conventions: rules for mapping abstract PCTE operations to Ada subprograms, naming conventions (Ada packages prefixed with
Pcte_), case and qualification guidelines, and package hierarchy aligned with the abstract specification.
- Datatype mapping: two-stage mapping via language-independent (LI) datatypes (ISO/IEC 11404). Examples include Boolean → boolean, PCTE integer/natural/float/time → LI generators (pcte-integer, pcte-float, pcte-time), and text → Pcte.string (a subtype of STANDARD.STRING).
- Complex types and sequences: bounded sets map to LI bounded-set generators; unbounded sequences and sets map to limited private Ada types with nested packages that provide construct/access/discard operations.
- Dynamic memory management: dynamically created types are declared as limited private; implementors must provide construct/discard operations and document limits to avoid STORAGE_ERROR.
- Error handling: provision of a limited private type
Pcte_error.handle that allows recording errors as values or raising exceptions.
- Conformance and limits: conformance to ISO/IEC 13719-1 rules, Ada standard compatibility (ISO/IEC 8652), and implementation limit subprograms (defined in clause 24).
- Comprehensive operation bindings: clauses 9–22 bind object management, schema management, volumes/devices, files/pipes, process execution, messaging, concurrency, replication, networks, discretionary/mandatory security, auditing, accounting and more. Annex A provides object-orientation extensions.
Practical applications and users
- Tool and environment implementors who need a standard Ada API for system engineering tools and configuration management.
- Vendors producing PCTE-compliant libraries or middleware for Ada applications.
- Systems integrators migrating or interfacing legacy Ada toolchains with standardized tool-environment services.
- Developers of CASE tools, build systems, versioning, and repository services that require portable, language-standard bindings.
Related standards
Keywords: ISO/IEC 13719-3, PCTE Ada binding, Portable Common Tool Environment, Ada binding, datatype mapping, language binding, Pcte.string, Pcte_error.handle, implementation limits.