From: KMays@msn.com (Kenneth Mays)
Subject: Ada 95 Books for Undergraduate Teaching
Date: 1996/05/28
Date: 1996-05-28T00:00:00+00:00 [thread overview]
Message-ID: <00001a73+00002d54@msn.com> (raw)
These books are available through Addison-Wesley. I evaluated a
choice between "Software Engineering with Ada, 3rd Edition" and a few
other books. No other book written before 1994 was considered since I
am looking for Ada 95 related books. The BEST books for CS1 and CS2,
in my opinion, are these two books from Dr. Michael Feldman
and one from Elliot Koffman (one of the best Computer Science
educators in America).
Computer Science #1 (Beginning Programming Course)
--------------------------------------------------
Ada 95: Problem Solving and Program Design, Second Edition
by Dr. Michael Feldman and Elliot Koffman
ISBN: 0-201-87009-6, softcover, 1996
I consider this the best book is teaching both the beginning and
experienced programmer about Ada 95. The strength comes from the
book's supplement of Ada source code and numerous examples. The books
covers all topics usually taught in expensive teaching seminars. I
give this book four out of five stars only because it didn't come
with a compiler (which is a strong point with any student (see AET
IntegraAda/386 or Visual Ada95 at http://www.pcada.com)).
Computer Science #2 (Advanced Programming Course)
--------------------------------------------------
Software Construction and Data Structures with Ada 95
by Michael Feldman
ISBN: 0-201-88795-9, softcover, 1997 (Available June 96 from Addison-Wesley)
This is the perfect book for an advanced course in Ada following Dr.
Feldman's first book. I considered this more of a graduate level book
in consideration to the Data Structures books for Pascal. I research
the curriculum of the John Hopkins Whiting School of Engineering
Computer Science courses to ensure this book could meet certain
standards. I gave it five stars since it is the first book, to my
knowledge, to deal with Ada 95 using Data structures at a simplified
level.
Computer Science Seminar (Advanced Programming Course)
------------------------------------------------------
File Structures with Ada
by Nancy Miller and Charles Peterson
ISBN: 0-8053-0440-1,600 pages, 1990 (Benjamin/Cummings - Addison-Wesley)
This is my second choice in Advanced Ada courses. I consider this the
best book on file structures using Ada 83 (which you can modify to
fit Ada 95 if needed). The book is better off as an advanced course
not in line with the first two books I mentioned. Books in this
related style are better as seminar books for senior level teaching
or advanced courses (definitely not basic/beginning undergraduate
courses). I give this book five stars since its great on giving you a
full foundation on file structure Ada programming.
By the way, its an old book (1990) but doesn't need a lot of
improvement other than relation to Ada 95.
Note: For most educators, I believe the Ada 95 books need the same
quality generated from books on Structured COBOL/Pascal/C++. It seems
horrid that such a great language like Ada 95 is polluted by books
that are more crytic to the learning student than experienced
programmer. Suggest a new generation of books that focus on well used
free compilers or student versions of commercial compilers (please
include CDROMS with source code to your work, examples (with
answers), and references on specialized topics).
What is hurting Ada 95 is the availability of the compilers
(especially tasking Ada 95 compilers) and quality books. Once we get
over that first hurdle, then I think all of us will be better off.
Also, your students are in competition with C++ (if we are sticking
with Software Engineers). If they program IBM clones using
DOS/Windows, they needed to know about MFC, API, DLL, DPMI, and other
PC related topics in use by MicroSoft's Visual C++, VIsual Basic,
Visual Foxpro, and even Borland Delphi. Make sure the compiler can
use such things as tasking since it only causes problems down the
road. Just an honest opinion.
Ken (kmays@msn.com)
next reply other threads:[~1996-05-28 0:00 UTC|newest]
Thread overview: 7+ messages / expand[flat|nested] mbox.gz Atom feed top
1996-05-28 0:00 Kenneth Mays [this message]
1996-06-01 0:00 ` Ada 95 Books for Undergraduate Teaching Michael Feldman
1996-06-03 0:00 ` Richard A. O'Keefe
-- strict thread matches above, loose matches on Subject: below --
1996-06-02 0:00 tmoran
1996-06-02 0:00 ` Michael Feldman
1996-06-03 0:00 tmoran
1996-06-02 0:00 ` Michael Feldman
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