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=0.6 required=5.0 tests=BAYES_20,FREEMAIL_FROM, INVALID_MSGID autolearn=no autolearn_force=no version=3.4.4 X-Google-Language: ENGLISH,ASCII-7-bit X-Google-Thread: 103376,b473cca758bf68cf,start X-Google-Attributes: gid103376,public From: KMays@msn.com (Kenneth Mays) Subject: Ada Book: Mini Review of "A First Course in Computer Science wth Ada" Date: 1996/05/29 Message-ID: <00001a73+00002d56@msn.com>#1/1 X-Deja-AN: 157924540 organization: The Microsoft Network (msn.com) newsgroups: comp.lang.ada Date: 1996-05-29T00:00:00+00:00 List-Id: 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.