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=-0.3 required=5.0 tests=BAYES_00, REPLYTO_WITHOUT_TO_CC autolearn=no autolearn_force=no version=3.4.4 X-Google-Language: ENGLISH,ASCII-7-bit X-Google-Thread: 103376,ea8ea502d35ca2ce X-Google-Attributes: gid103376,public X-Google-ArrivalTime: 2001-05-06 13:08:16 PST Path: newsfeed.google.com!newsfeed.stanford.edu!headwall.stanford.edu!unlnews.unl.edu!newsfeed.ksu.edu!nntp.ksu.edu!news.okstate.edu!dvdeug From: dvdeug@x8b4e53cd.dhcp.okstate.edu (David Starner) Newsgroups: comp.lang.ada Subject: Re: Beginner's Language? Date: 6 May 2001 19:15:27 GMT Organization: Oklahoma State University Message-ID: <9d47sf$7pu1@news.cis.okstate.edu> References: <9cukad$nn68@news-dxb> <9d0fr2$9281@news.cis.okstate.edu> <87ae4q4o2d.fsf@deneb.enyo.de> Reply-To: dstarner98@aasaa.ofe.org NNTP-Posting-Host: x8b4e555d.dhcp.okstate.edu User-Agent: slrn/0.9.7.0 (Linux) Xref: newsfeed.google.com comp.lang.ada:7237 Date: 2001-05-06T19:15:27+00:00 List-Id: On 06 May 2001 15:14:18 +0200, Florian Weimer wrote: > If someone has reasonable basic mathematical training (in particular, > if s/he knows how to play around with sets and mappings), you can > explain the basics of functional programming in those terms. I think > this much easier to understand than the concept of a stateful machine > executing some program code. In my experience, sets and mappings aren't dealt with in detail until a college class (Discrete Math) usually taken after CompSci 1. Most algorithms, even in elementary school, are taught in a procedural manner, with lots of sequence points and gotos. The world is a very stateful place, and I think iteration is easier to understand than recursion. -- David Starner - dstarner98@aasaa.ofe.org Pointless website: http://dvdeug.dhis.org "I don't care if Bill personally has my name and reads my email and laughs at me. In fact, I'd be rather honored." - Joseph_Greg