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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"?