skip to main content
article
Free Access

On the use of pointers and the teaching of disciplined programming

Authors Info & Claims
Published:01 July 1976Publication History
Skip Abstract Section

Abstract

In the past few years there has been considerable debate over the question of pointers in programming languages. Some maintain that pointers should not be allowed, while others try to restrict their use in a number of ways. In this paper we try to justify our view that pointers are a natural and useful way to teach beginners in Computer Science to manipulate list structures, provided a group of strong limitations is placed upon them. We define pointers in SPL, a language to teach beginners disciplined programming.

References

  1. 1 Hoare, C.A.R., "Notes on Data Structuring", in "Structured Programming", Academic Press. 1972, 83-174.]] Google ScholarGoogle ScholarDigital LibraryDigital Library
  2. 2 Hoare, C.A.R., "Hints on Programming Language Design", Proc. ACM SIGACT/SIGPLAN Symp. on Principles of Programming Languages, Boston, Oct 73.]]Google ScholarGoogle Scholar
  3. 3 Hoare, C.A.R., "Data Reliability", Proc. 1975 International Conference on Reliable Software, SIGPLAN Notices 10:6, Jun 75, 528-533.]] Google ScholarGoogle ScholarDigital LibraryDigital Library
  4. 4 Holt, R.C., "Teaching the Fatal Disease", Report RCH-1, Dept. of Computer Science, Univ. of Toronto, Dec 1972.]]Google ScholarGoogle Scholar
  5. 5 Knuth, D.E., "The Art of Computer Programming", volume 1, Addison-Wesley, 1968.]] Google ScholarGoogle ScholarDigital LibraryDigital Library
  6. 6 Liskov, B. & Zilles, S., "Programming with Abstract Data Types", SIGPLAN Notices 9:4, Apr 74, 50-59.]] Google ScholarGoogle ScholarDigital LibraryDigital Library
  7. 7 Wirth, N. & Hoare, C.A.R., "A Contribution to the Development of Algol", Comm. ACM. 9:6, Jun 66, 413-432.]] Google ScholarGoogle ScholarDigital LibraryDigital Library
  8. 8 Wirth, N., "Program Development by Stepwise Refinement", Comm. ACM 14:4, Apr 1971, 221-227.]] Google ScholarGoogle ScholarDigital LibraryDigital Library
  9. 9 Wirth, N., "The Programming Language Pascal", Acta Informatica 1, 1971, 35-63.]]Google ScholarGoogle ScholarDigital LibraryDigital Library
  10. 10 Zelkowitz, M.V., "Pointer Variables within a Diagnostic Compiler", Tech. Ref. TR-343, Dept. of Computer Science, Univ. of Maryland, Dec. 74.]]Google ScholarGoogle Scholar

Index Terms

  1. On the use of pointers and the teaching of disciplined programming

      Recommendations

      Comments

      Login options

      Check if you have access through your login credentials or your institution to get full access on this article.

      Sign in

      Full Access

      • Published in

        cover image ACM SIGCSE Bulletin
        ACM SIGCSE Bulletin  Volume 8, Issue 3
        Proceedings of the 6th SIGCSE symposium on Computer science education
        July 1976
        146 pages
        ISSN:0097-8418
        DOI:10.1145/952991
        Issue’s Table of Contents
        • cover image ACM Conferences
          SIGCSE '76: Proceedings of the sixth SIGCSE technical symposium on Computer science education
          September 1976
          154 pages
          ISBN:9781450374453
          DOI:10.1145/800144

        Copyright © 1976 ACM

        Publisher

        Association for Computing Machinery

        New York, NY, United States

        Publication History

        • Published: 1 July 1976

        Check for updates

        Qualifiers

        • article
      • Article Metrics

        • Downloads (Last 12 months)15
        • Downloads (Last 6 weeks)2

        Other Metrics

      PDF Format

      View or Download as a PDF file.

      PDF

      eReader

      View online with eReader.

      eReader
      About Cookies On This Site

      We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website.

      Learn more

      Got it!