beginner
Derek Ross
> But remember Edsger Dijkstra's words:
>
> # It is practically impossible to teach good programming style to
> # students that have had prior exposure to BASIC; as potential
> # programmers they are mentally mutilated beyond hope of regeneration.
>
which he wrote in a 1975 tongue-in-cheek note "How do We Tell Truths
that Might Hurt" (not to be confused with his 1968 article "Go To
Statement Considered Harmful"). Don't take it too seriously. He made
similar cracks about the other important languages of the day (apart
from his favourite, Algol). The only reason that C++, Perl, etc. were
missing was that they didn't exist at the time. See for yourself at
http://www.cs.virginia.edu/~evans/cs655/readings/ewd498.html
I'm inclined to think that Dijkstra disliked BASIC just as much for
its built-in IDE as for its GOTO statements. He didn't like people to
code at the terminal. For him, inventing the algorithm was what Real
Programmers did. Everything else was just details. And on that
point, I'm inclined to agree with him.
Cheers
Derek
J French
Ross) wrote:
>Nils Goesche <car...@cartan.de> wrote in message news:<ly8yth5...@cartan.de>...
>> But remember Edsger Dijkstra's words:
>>
>> # It is practically impossible to teach good programming style to
>> # students that have had prior exposure to BASIC; as potential
>> # programmers they are mentally mutilated beyond hope of regeneration.
Of course the other thing that Dijkstra is famous for is an
interesting little puzzle
- called Dijkstra's Balls
Realistically, one heck of a lot of programmers and programs came from
BASIC
- primarily because it was accessable
- most early Micros had some form of embedded BASIC
- programmers are IMO 'self selecting'
The stats someone quoted about 70% of 'C' programmers not falling by
the wayside, might well be true
- perhaps because they are formally (but not academically) taught
'defensive programming'
- perhaps also because they lie about how they really got hooked on
computers
Realistically, one can write a dogpile in any language
IME computers get at your brain, they change the way you look at
things, some people are susceptable - some are not
Gandalf Parker
news:3ed462e3...@news.btclick.com:
> IME computers get at your brain, they change the way you look at
> things, some people are susceptable - some are not
>
I was in the military when they stated shifting from
mainframes/dumbterminals to small computers for alot of things.
On the subject of programming I told them that there are two groups I could
count on for being able to program. Those who could write clear OI's
(operating instructions, manuals for day to day jobs), and the other was
mothers of small children.
After the laughs I would tell them that programming was a step-by-step
painstakingly clear procedure with checks every step of the way to make
sure things were done right. "Its like teaching a 5 year old how to tie
their shoes. Actually, its like teaching a 5 year old how to tie their
shoes, over the phone. If you can do that, then you too could be a
programmer."
Gandalf Parker
-- Personally I would rather hire someone who knows 3 "dead" programming
languages than an expert in some latest one.
J French
- however analysis involves a form of 'spacial awareness'
- which is less common in females