Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site mit-eddie.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!vaxine!wjh12!genrad!mit-eddie!nessus From: nessus@mit-eddie.UUCP (Doug Alan) Newsgroups: net.lang Subject: Re: Professionalizing Programmers, Going Off-line Message-ID: <2054@mit-eddie.UUCP> Date: Wed, 6-Jun-84 05:06:41 EDT Article-I.D.: mit-eddi.2054 Posted: Wed Jun 6 05:06:41 1984 Date-Received: Thu, 7-Jun-84 00:50:32 EDT References: <1044@vax2.fluke.UUCP> Organization: MIT, Cambridge, MA Lines: 27 > From: kurt@fluke.UUCP > 1. If you have to prepare your program off-line (worse yet on > punch cards), you tend to think out the whole program in > advance, because going back and forth from the punch (or > whatever input device) to the computer is tedious, input devices > are typically scarce, the wait for output is also tedious. That's right! And to make sure the students really get it right the first time, we should make them toggle it in in binary on the front console, and if they get it wrong the first time, they fail not only that course, but all their courses. If they get it wrong the second time, then they get a 30 million volt shock that makes sure they will never have the ability to deface a computer's memory so again. No thanks! I was able to learn how to think about my whole program in advance without cruel and unusual punishment and having my time wasted. The trick is to give problems difficult enough so that the students won't be able to succeed without thinking in advance how to structure their programs. -- -Doug Alan mit-eddie!nessus Nessus@MIT-MC "What does 'I' mean"?