Hi @Rad, On Wed, May 30, 2012 at 11:27 AM, Rad! <conradakunga@gmail.com> wrote:
Guys. I have no problem with python as a language. It is brilliant. I use it myself.
However it shields you from many things like pointers. And memory access. Or how to implement a list. Or a doubly linked list. Or a tree. From first principles. Without using built own types. These are things good programmers need to understand well before using higher level languages.
It is true that as a Computer programmer you may have to really go low and talk to the "bare metal machine". In practice, this is rarely done if you ask me. At times I usually have to maintain code written in C / C++. The surprise is, the fixes don't involve pointers AT ALL, or lists and graphs + trees / heaps, maps, etc. Neither do they deal with stepping into assembly level instructions.
There are two issues here. Teaching programming CONCEPTS and teaching programming are different things.
My point is, concepts such as pointer arithmetic, data structures and algorithms O/O, etc are better appreciated by people who have a fairly good understanding of the basics of Programming (string, functions, looping constructs, classes, libraries). My other problem is that the "low-level" stuff is what actually makes beginners develop the mentality that programming is tough and look for alternative professions. My approach would be to start-off with the really simple and interesting before taking it a step lower for the really motivated learners. Martin.
On Wednesday, May 30, 2012, Kelvin wrote:
I think Python is better suited to beginners for all practical
purposes. It is simple and you can almost immediately start using it to learn programming concepts with a basic interpreter. My main worry with Pascal is that you may never take it outside the classroom. Martin.
I Agree with Martin 100%
Go with Python.
Kelvin www.likechapaa.com <http://www.dukapress.com>www.dukapress.org
On Wed, May 30, 2012 at 11:10 AM, Martin Chiteri < martin.chiteri@gmail.com> wrote:
I think Python is better suited to beginners for all practical purposes. It is simple and you can almost immediately start using it to learn programming concepts with a basic interpreter. My main worry with Pascal is that you may never take it outside the classroom.
Martin.
-- DISCLAIMER: I have never used Pascal or any of its close relatives. I hold nothing against it.
On 5/30/12, Rad! <conradakunga@gmail.com> wrote:
I too highly recommend pascal as a language for teaching programming concepts, particularly data structures and algorithms
On Wednesday, May 30, 2012, Joseph Maina wrote:
they say every man has a price ... but not every man gets it...
On Wed, May 30, 2012 at 9:21 AM, Raymond Rono <raymond.rono@gmail.com>wrote:
History or no History, How much per hour are we talking about?
On Tue, May 29, 2012 at 3:45 PM, Mickey Mickey <michaelakunga@gmail.com>wrote:
As much as passion stands pascal stands with structured programming if that is where the walls end!
On Tue, May 29, 2012 at 3:43 PM, Peter Muchemi <pmuchemi@gmail.com> wrote:
Pascal was invented as a language to teach students structured programming languages. A popular dialect, turbo pascal was part developed by anders Hejlsberg who went on to design delphi and .net
After coding on delphi for close to 10 years,its a language I would recommend to anyone who wants to develop a career as a Kenyan software developer.
On Tue, May 29, 2012 at 3:36 PM, Joseph Maina <mainasoft00@gmail.com>wrote:
@mickey
for those whose it was the first language, and the language you did project with..... it is not history...
On Tue, May 29, 2012 at 3:33 PM, Mickey Mickey <michaelakunga@gmail.com>wrote:
CV Details for structured PASCAL? Someone need update his CV again right after eliminating it as an old language History repeats itself.
On Tue, May 29, 2012 at 3:01 PM, Moses <mosenetk@gmail.com> wrote:
Hi Guys,
I got someone looking for an instructor to teach introduction to programming using pascal on part time. If you are interested, please inbox your CV/details.
Moses.
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