From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 3.4.4 (2020-01-24) on polar.synack.me X-Spam-Level: X-Spam-Status: No, score=-1.3 required=5.0 tests=BAYES_00,FREEMAIL_FROM, INVALID_MSGID autolearn=no autolearn_force=no version=3.4.4 X-Google-Language: ENGLISH,ASCII-7-bit X-Google-Thread: 103376,4fdb1bcbd0d9e4b7,start X-Google-Attributes: gid103376,public From: KMays@msn.com (Kenneth Mays) Subject: Ada 95 Books for Undergraduate Teaching Date: 1996/05/28 Message-ID: <00001a73+00002d54@msn.com>#1/1 X-Deja-AN: 157917503 organization: The Microsoft Network (msn.com) newsgroups: comp.lang.ada Date: 1996-05-28T00:00:00+00:00 List-Id: 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)