chris@mimsy.UUCP (Chris Torek) (07/29/89)
In article <8514@batcomputer.tn.cornell.edu> lacey@batcomputer.tn.cornell.edu (John Lacey) writes: >P.S. What about comp.lang.paradigms? ... How about `comp.lang.models' instead? Not only is it easier to type (and spell), it is also the right word. A newsgroup for examples in particular computer languages does not seem very useful. -- In-Real-Life: Chris Torek, Univ of MD Comp Sci Dept (+1 301 454 7163) Domain: chris@mimsy.umd.edu Path: uunet!mimsy!chris
marc@hpfcdc.HP.COM (Marc[e] Sabatella) (08/02/89)
>The most important thing is LEAVING OUT spurious or unhelpful concepts, >like line numbers in BASIC or pointers to functions returning arrays of >structures containing pointers to functions returning... in C, or about >half of PL/I. :-) The simpler the better for an introductory language. On the other hand, just because C *provides* this, doesn't mean you have to teach it in a beginning class. I could probably make a good argument for a language like Ada as a beginning language - if you stick to basics it is as easy as Pascal (easier, really - I think in/out is more intutive than "var"), and when it is time to learn more advanced concepts (say, in a second or third course) you don't have to switch languages. -------------- Marc Sabatella HP Colorado Language Lab (CoLL) marc@hpmonk
hjb@otter.hpl.hp.com (Harry Barman) (08/02/89)
Another good "leveller" first language is ML. Since ML is a functional language with a decent type system, it is much easier to teach the basic concepts to people who have never programmer. It is also very good for the people who have written programs before. Often they have only written some cobbled together Basic/Assembler/C, and ML shows them that there are other languages & keeps 'em quiet :-). In the UK, I think both Hatfield Polytechnic and Cambridge University teach ML as a first language, perhaps someone from either of those places might like to comment? -- Harry
Harry.Barman@mamab.FIDONET.ORG (Harry Barman) (08/05/89)
-- Fidonet: Harry Barman via 1:363/9 Internet: Harry.Barman@mamab.FIDONET.ORG Usenet: ...!peora!rtmvax!libcmp!mamab!Harry.Barman
mproicou@blackbird.afit.af.mil (Michael C. Proicou) (08/07/89)
In article <5160021@hpfcdc.HP.COM> marc@hpfcdc.HP.COM (Marc[e] Sabatella) writes: >I could probably make a good argument for a language like Ada as a beginning >language - if you stick to basics it is as easy as Pascal (easier, really - >I think in/out is more intutive than "var"), and when it is time to learn >more advanced concepts (say, in a second or third course) you don't have to >switch languages. I mostly agree, EXCEPT you have to do generics to any kind of output of numbers and things! For that reason, I'd recommend Pascal, with a switch to Ada if that's your end goal. Since Ada is close to Pascal, very little would be lost in switching languages. Mike -- Mike Proicou mproicou@galaxy.afit.af.mil <- Preferred(?) Form mproicou@afit-ab.arpa <- Most Likely to Work? Go Figure!