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LINUS: A structured language for instructional use

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Published:01 January 1974Publication History
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Abstract

One of the crucial decisions in organizing a first course in computer science is the choice of a programming language. Although there is considerable variance of opinion as to what the ideal language should be, two main approaches can be delineated. The first approach stresses the necessity of learning the dominant scientific language, which in the Americas amounts to a vote for Fortran (2). The practicality of this choice is as indisputable as the awkwardness of the syntax of that language. The alternative view stresses the importance of the program structure in developing a sound sense of “algorithmic thinking”. Proponents of this view would suggest Algol W (4) or perhaps Pascal (5). We contend that both approaches have important advantages. This paper explores an approach which attempts to maximize the benefits of both.

References

  1. 1 Atchison, W. F., et al, "Curriculum 68 - Recommendations for Academic Programs in Computer Science," CACM, 11, 1968, pp. 151-197. Google ScholarGoogle ScholarDigital LibraryDigital Library
  2. 2 Ralston, A., "Fortran and the First Course in Computer Science," SIGCSE Bulletin, Vol. 3,No. 4, December 1971. Google ScholarGoogle ScholarDigital LibraryDigital Library
  3. 3 Van Wijngaarden, A., Mailloux, B. J., Peck, J. E. L., and Koster, C. H. A., Report on the Algorithmic Language Algol 68, MR 101, Mathematisch Centrum, Amsterdam, October 1969. Google ScholarGoogle ScholarDigital LibraryDigital Library
  4. 4 Wirth, N., Hoare, C., "A Contribution to the Development of ALGOL," CACM, 9, 1966, pp. 413-432. Google ScholarGoogle ScholarDigital LibraryDigital Library
  5. 5 Wirth, N., "The Programming Language PASCAL," Acta Informatica, 1, 1971, pp. 35-64.Google ScholarGoogle ScholarDigital LibraryDigital Library
  6. 6 Wulf, william A., "A Case Against the GOTO," SIGPLAN Notices, Vol. 7, No. 11, November 1972. Google ScholarGoogle ScholarDigital LibraryDigital Library

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      • Published in

        cover image ACM SIGCSE Bulletin
        ACM SIGCSE Bulletin  Volume 6, Issue 1
        Proceedings of the 4th SIGCSE symposium on Computer science education
        February 1974
        195 pages
        ISSN:0097-8418
        DOI:10.1145/953057
        Issue’s Table of Contents
        • cover image ACM Conferences
          SIGCSE '74: Proceedings of the fourth SIGCSE technical symposium on Computer science education
          January 1974
          194 pages
          ISBN:9781450374835
          DOI:10.1145/800183

        Copyright © 1974 ACM

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        Association for Computing Machinery

        New York, NY, United States

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        • Published: 1 January 1974

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