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 .... }