How to Design Programs: An Introduction to Programming and Computing

Felleisen, Matthias; Findler, Robert Bruce; Flatt, Matthew

ISBN 10: 0262062186 / ISBN 13: 9780262062183

Published by Mit Press, 2001

May have limited writing in cover pages. Pages are unmarked. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less 3.21. Seller Inventory # G0262062186I4N00

Synopsis:

This introduction to programming places computer science in the core of a liberal arts education. Unlike other introductory books, it focuses on the program design process. This approach fosters a variety of skills-critical reading, analytical thinking, creative synthesis, and attention to detail-that are important for everyone, not just future computer programmers. The book exposes readers to two fundamentally new ideas. First, it presents program design guidelines that show the reader how to analyze a problem statement; how to formulate concise goals; how to make up examples; how to develop an outline of the solution, based on the analysis; how to finish the program; and how to test. Each step produces a well-defined intermediate product. Second, the book comes with a novel programming environment, the first one explicitly designed for beginners. The environment grows with the readers as they master the material in the book until it supports a full-fledged language for the whole spectrum of programming tasks. All the book's support materials are available for free on the Web. The Web site includes the environment, teacher guides, exercises for all levels, solutions, and additional projects. A second edition is now available.

Synopsis: This introduction to programming places computer science in the core of a liberal arts education. It focuses on the program design process. This approach fosters a variety of skills - critical reading, analytical thinking, creative synthesis, and attention to detail - that are important for everyone, not just future computer programmers. The book exposes readers to two ideas. First, it presents program design guidelines that show the reader how to analyze a problem statement; how to formulate concise goals; how to make up examples; how to develop an outline of the solution, based on the analysis; how to finish the program; and how to test. Each step produces a well-defined intermediate product. Second, the book comes with a programming environment explicitly designed for beginners. The environment grows with the readers as they master the material in the book until it supports a full-fledged language for the whole spectrum of programming tasks. All the book's support materials are available for free on the Web. The Web site includes the environment, teacher guides, exercises for all levels, solutions, and additional projects.

Bibliographic Details

Title: How to Design Programs: An Introduction to ...
Publisher: Mit Press
Publication Date: 2001
Binding: Hardcover
Condition: Very Good
Dust Jacket Condition: No Jacket