Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!mcsun!ukc!pyrltd!slxsys!qtlon!uel!andrew
From: andrew@uel.co.uk (Andrew Josey)
Newsgroups: comp.lang.modula2
Subject: New Modula-2 Textbook Review
Keywords: Modula-2, Abstract Data Types, Functional Programming
Message-ID: <1281@uel.co.uk>
Date: 2 Oct 89 13:52:26 GMT
Organization: AT&T UNIX Software Operation
Lines: 39

This is a short review of a new text book entitled "Abstract Data Types
in Modula-2" which I thought may be of interest to the readers of this 
newsgroup.










To skip this article press "n" now:

"Abstract Data Types in Modula-2", R.Harrison
Publisher: John Wiley, ISBN Number: 0 471 92230 7

This new text emphasises the use of Abstract Data Types (ADT's) as a
programming tool, and the importance of deriving programs from their
specifications. 
The usual ADT's are covered: lists, queues, stacks, sets, trees, tables and
graphs. A set of procedures is defined for each ADT and then used
to manipulate the data type. 
A quite unusual approach is the functional style in which the programs 
are written - making the resultant code more elegant, robust and less 
susceptible to side-effects.
The appendices include language syntax diagrams (a very useful reference),
standard utility modules, an introduction to Modula-2 for Pascal programmers
and a review of the use of pointers.
The book is especially suitable for undergraduates reading Computer
Science and anyone interested in using Modula-2 for software development.
==
 Andrew Josey,	AT&T UNIX Software Operation Europe, 
 International House, Ealing Broadway, London W5 5DB, England, UK
 Email: andrew@uel.co.uk||andrew@attunix.sf.att.com
 { The usual disclaimer .... If any, opinions are my own .... }