On Tue, 2008-01-15 at 14:57 +0000, Alan Blackwell wrote: > I've just come out of a meeting reviewing the choice of teaching > languages for Cambridge, so can report directly on the criteria > that were raised by my colleagues.
All my experience on these issues stem from the introduction of C++ and Scheme then Miranda at UCL in 1985-7, and then the switch to Java in 1996-7. Also the switch from Modula-2 to Java at KCL in 1997-8. So I am way out of date :-) > First language taught here will continue to be ML, because it > allows clean expression of basic computational concepts. > > Second language is intended to offer an alternative paradigm to > that of functional programming, for which the best choice is > believed to be object-oriented programming. (Students encounter > other paradigms, such as logic programming, in later years). > > We believe that the feasible options for teaching OO programming > at undergraduate level are presently C++, Java and C#. > > We have most pressure from employers to teach C++ not Java. > However, we think that C++ has disadvantages as a teaching > language. We have most pressure from language suppliers to teach > C# (well, from one language supplier). Despite both forms of > pressure, we think that Java provides the best teaching language > at present for basic object oriented concepts. I think you must not have the banks as your major pressure group. As far as I am aware they want Java and C# primarily and then C++ perhaps with C. The embedded systems community are fundamentally C and assembler based with some C++, Ada and SPARK. I think Java is the right second course in this context. It bridges ML and C++ reasonably, is wanted by employers (it is currently the number 1 language for use), and it really is multi-platform (with a few minor caveats). Despite Mono, C# is still Windows only. > Furthermore, the tool sets and libraries are sufficient, that > students are later able to carry out substantial personal project > work in Java if they wish to. They are also able to choose other > languages if they wish. Many Cambridge students do project work > in ML, Matlab, C#, C++ and other languages, but the majority > choose Java. > > Based on the discussion I listened to, the statement that > "applicants equate enrolling on this program => becoming great at > Java => well-paid employment" is not true here, as Michael > suspected. I think the point is that as long as Java and C# appear in the curriculum over 3 years, the appropriate box has been ticked. -- Russel. ==================================================== Dr Russel Winder t: +44 20 7585 2200 41 Buckmaster Road m: +44 7770 465 077 London SW11 1EN, UK w: http://www.russel.org.uk/
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