Ada Book: Mini Review of "A First Course in Computer Science wth Ada"

[KMays@msn.com (Kenneth Mays)]

A First Course in Computer Science with Ada
by Nicholas J. Delillo

ISBN 0-256-12364-0 (3.5" disk included)
     0-256-12538-4 (5.25 disk included)
     comes with IntegrAda V4.3 from AET (www.pcada.com)
Copyright 1993, 678 pp., Robert D. Irwin, Inc. (Publishers) 


1. The compiler is the best part since IntegrAda is one of the best
PC Ada compilers on the market. This compiler is geared towards Ada 83
compilation and even includes an online manual. It deserves five stars out
of five just because its commercial quality and was included with the book.

2. The source code and examples that can with the book was another great
supplement. Reusable code is great and it gives the student or 
teacher a chance to test all the examples against the book and/or 
compilers. I give the disk four stars of of five since there was room 
for improvement in various areas.

3. The book wasn't of the quality Computer Science (CS1) book I hoped 
to read. Some experienced students found the book very cryptic and 
said "this book leaves much to be desired." Since the book mentions 
its target is a first coursework book in using Ada, you'd want to use 
it for a first course in Ada programming. But, the book is for VERY 
experienced programmers that might need a small reference in using 
the language and trying out Ada compilation. As a book for beginning 
or intermediate students, this book does not suit this intended 
audience. I compared this book with "C++ Primer Plus:Second Edition 
(Waite Group) and "Teaching ... in ... days" books with negative 
results. Mr. Delillo's book will teach you Ada 83 only if you read it 
with the use of other text books, and take ALOT of time with examples.
I gave the book two out of five stars since many students and 
professors didn't like the book. The book is definitely a reference 
or supplemental book for other Ada books - not suitable for CS1.