Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!mnetor!seismo!ut-sally!utah-cs!shebs From: shebs@utah-cs.UUCP (Stanley Shebs) Newsgroups: comp.lang.misc Subject: Re: Teaching object-oriented paradigm t Message-ID: <4155@utah-cs.UUCP> Date: Sun, 11-Jan-87 18:16:04 EST Article-I.D.: utah-cs.4155 Posted: Sun Jan 11 18:16:04 1987 Date-Received: Tue, 13-Jan-87 01:10:07 EST References: <4000001@nucsrl.UUCP> <82100001@uiucdcsp> Reply-To: shebs@utah-cs.UUCP (Stanley Shebs) Organization: PASS Research Group Lines: 23 In article <82100001@uiucdcsp> johnson@uiucdcsp.cs.uiuc.edu writes: >Some people think that o-o programming is little more than abstract >data-types. In this case, it should certainly be taught to beginning >programmers, and in many cases, it is. On the other hand, I think that >one of the most important ideas in o-o programming is the use of standard >interfaces (protocols) for objects such that many classes support the >same interface and programs can operate on objects in any of those classes. Hmmm, when I think "abstract data types" I just naturally assume that they allow polymorphism. Are there actually people that don't believe polymorphism is a Good Thing? :-) >Some schools teach a non-standard language for the first programming course, >but I think that the political realities force most schools to teach a >language that students might possibly use when they graduate. Utah teaches at least three elementary courses, emphasizing Fortran, C, and Pascal/Scheme, respectively. The last-named is what CS pre-majors start out in, and there is a healthy dose of concepts in the course. On the other hand, the Pascal and Scheme mix is a bit schizophrenic... stan shebs