Re: Textbooks

[<adaworks@sbcglobal.net>]

"Jacob Sparre Andersen" <sparre@nbi.dk> wrote in message 
news:ygeve3n3yq4.fsf@hugsarin.dmusyd.edu...
> Richard Riehle wrote:
>
>> Ada Distilled includes a complete set of fully-coded programs that
>> work.  When you use that book, be sure to also download the separate
>> file that includes the programs.  Then, you can present those
>> programs in any order you wish.
>
> I have tried to use Ada Distilled in a course, but it didn't work out
> as well as I had hoped.  Mostly because I wasn't teaching experienced
> programmers.  For inexperienced students, it isn't quite right.
>
Right.  Ada Distilled is not intended for inexperienced programmers. It is
directed to those who have quite a bit of experience in solving programming
problems, and who will understand the kinds of problems the programs are
intended to illustrate.

Also, it is light on theory.   I have tried to annotate each programming 
example,
including some annotations from the ALRM.   I also included an annotated
version of Text_IO and some other packages from Annex A.

Unlike some Ada programming books, every source code example is a complete
program -- compilable and executable.   A complaint I once had from some of
my students was that some textbooks show a fragment of code and follow with
the equivalent of, "The solution is left as an exercise for the student."   I 
tried
to avoid that kind of thing.

I have received email from people all over the world, including Iran and some
other places where we are not on good terms.  I even had an invitation to teach
Ada in Iran using Ada Distilled, an invitation I politely declined.    Instead, 
I
referred them to a friend in the French Ada community who I know to be
an excellent instructor.  I never received word on whether that training took
place, and I don't need to know.   He did not know I recommended him.

Meanwhile, I have made a little bit of progress with the new version.   I added
examples with distinguished receiver notation and a few smaller items.  I'll try
to get it revised suficiently for posting to the AdaIC web site this year.

Many thanks to all of those who have been so generous in their comments,
advice and suggestions.  You are always welcome to send other suggestions
to me that might improve the overall benefit of the book.

Richard Riehle