Re: Testing job applicants

[wbdesnoy@acs2.acs.ucalgary.ca (Byron Desnoyers Winmill)]

Bruce Hoult (brucehoult@pobox.com) wrote:
: It's astounding to me that preople are today teaching raw beginners C++. 
: And they're flounderng.
:              Java would be better (in the absense of being able to buy
: textbooks on Pascal any more) but a small simple language such as Scheme,
: SmallTalk, or Logo would be much better. 

Actually, Pascal texts are still published and Pascal is often used in courses
which introduce computers to novices.  Pascal compilers for the PC were still
available until last year (the last time I bothered checking), and it appears
as though it is still being offered for Apple II computers as well.  :-)

The problem is that Pascal is not perceived as "career oriented", so teaching
it in computer science courses are a good way to loose students who think that
they are in the know.  But it is a great language to prepare people for C, and
it is a shame that people sneer at it.

As for logo, just try getting that past people who were exposed to computers
in schools in the eighties.  Not a chance.

Though one interesting idea used at my university, until a year or two ago,
was to use a little know language called Meranda (?).  A couple of my friends,
who were mathematically inclined, took the course and enjoyed both the
instruction and playing with the language.  But that was then . . .

. . . now everything is C++.

Byron.