Re: Java-Ada 2005 Syntax / Language Features Comparisons

[michael.mcnett@usma.edu]

Thanks for everyone's responses.
- I already have the Steelman reference and will use a couple snippets
from it.
- While I've considered using a Data Structures book that uses Ada
2005, I've decided against it for several reasons.
- I agree that having "primitive cheat-sheets" is not best for all NEW
CS majors, there are a handful of students whose learning styles call
for something like this.  If a student doesn't want (or need) to refer
to it, they certainly don't have to.
- The next course they take uses Java, although we don't teach them
Java - it is expected that they do some self-study to learn the
language.  This means the following: CS1 teaches problem solving using
Ada; CS2 teaches data structures using Ada (but using a Java data
structures book); CS3 is Advanced Programming Concepts (using Java)
that focuses quite a bit on Design Patterns.
- The book that I'm using in CS2 also introduces students to UML,
sequence diagrams, and several other important concepts that we use in
the CS3 course.  Therefore, this CS2 course is the "hook" I'm using to
link their CS1 course to their CS3 course without directly "teaching"
a new programming language.  The book used in the CS2 course helps me
teach the concepts, with the extra benefit of their gaining some basic
familiarity with language they will use in their CS3 course.
- I agree with having recode some stuff using "syntax equivalents" is
a bad idea.  That's why I stated that they understand the concepts
from the book and implement them in Ada.  I certainly am not
advocating that they understand the SYNTAX from the book and code that
in "equivalent" Ada SYNTAX.
- The wiki reference will be helpful.

Thanks again to everyone's input.

Mike