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From: adaworks@netcom.com (AdaWorks)
Subject: Re: Comparison of languages for CS1 and CS2
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Robert Dewar (dewar@cs.nyu.edu) wrote:
: T.E.D. says

:  It is MUCH easier to write simple programs in C than
:  in Ada. All of the I/O routines right there for you, and allow rather
:  sophisticated formatting. You don't have to type nearly as much. Support
:  for reading command line args couldn't be much simpler.

Robert says:

: I don't buy this at all. 

  I agree Robert, but maybe for different reasons.  

  Text_IO is at the wrong level of abstraction for normal use. It is
  excellent for creating other I/O packages at the right level of
  abstraction.

  Students new to Ada should be provided with an I/O package that has what
  they need to be able to start doing homework in time for the next class
  session.  This means an I/O package that pre-instantiates all the types
  from package standard; has infix catenators (&) defined for string &
  integer, float & string, etc., has screen cursor positioning operations;
  and other facilities that make it at least as powerful as they would
  find in BASIC or C. 

  This is not hard to do. It is the instuctor's responsibility. Students 
  will be able to focus their attention of getting assignments completed.
  A side benefit, later when discussing abstraction, is to demonstrate
  how cleverly you used abstraction as a pedagogical device to seduce them
  into enjoying Ada.

  Richard Riehle
  adaworks@netcom.com

-- 
                                             adaworks@netcom.com
