CS11 courses in UP Diliman will now start with Java and will be encouraged
to use Linux instead of WinXP or Win2K. CS12, however, will be in Java and
C. Why C? Well, using Java exclusively removes the experiences of debugging
pointers and our CS32 (data structures) requires that the student knows how
to implement lists, stack, etc. using pointers.
As I have stated, the current crop of students in UP Diliman CS including
those who graduated last year have not had the luxury of being exposed to
Linux. Now that I am back, they will be FORCED to learn it. hehe...
resistance is futile!
Python, although free, is not an efficient programming language to teach to
our students. We do not see the need for them to learn it. The base
languages are Java, C, C++, Prolog and Lisp. Although this does not mean
that the teachers will not teach other languages - Programming Language
course *might* teach Python.
As for databases such as MySQL, PostgreSQL, etc. UP Diliman CS is different
when it comes to these products. We do not teach students on HOW to use
these applications but rather HOW to develop applications like these. Our
Database Design course teaches students the underlying technologies behind
database systems. The students are free to use any of these DBMS - including
MS SQLServer because we do have a license for it (sayang naman!).
AS for other open source applications, UPD CS students are now encouraged to
check open source projects. Most, if not all, the applications that they are
developing for their senior year projects are open source.
As for libraries - again, we do not teach students WHAT to use but rather
HOW to choose the right tools for a given problem. We do not care if they
use Qt, Motif, MFC, Swing or whatever for their interfaces - but again, this
depends on the teacher.
The CRS is being revamped. I have communicated with Eric regarding the plans
of Diliman for this - me being a member of two committees in charge of this
project - CRS 2, headed by Prof. Putong, will start development next year
employing the tools that are open sourced. Watch out soon - you will no
longer see .asp pages but rather .jsp. :-b
Cheers!
==
It would really be better if students would get into Linux and free software
development early on, as in CS12 (or CS11 in UP Manila and LB). I don't know
for the other UP campuses, but the first taste students have of Linux was
with
their operating system courses (it's CS125 in UP Manila and LB). At a late
stage, Linux would already sound like YAFL (yet another foreign language).
This should not be only about Linux, but free software and open-source
software in general. The university should be a bastion of academic freedom,
and that freedom doesn't come in a platform that continues to dumb down the
user and the tools, which in effect doesn't offer freedom. It should be free
and open source software at the start - like employing Python and use of the
GNU compiler collection and utilities in programming classes, PostgreSQL and
MySQL for databases, etc... By starting early on and explaining its merits
at
the start, using free software would not sound to be forced down to the
throats of the students. But that's just my opinion, as I'm still just a
student after all...
Some of my colleagues who graduated already from the CS program and are into
business employing free and open source technologies also recommended
learning how to use the Qt library routines as opposed to the traditional
Motif. Anyway, PLUGers can give more sound and experienced opinion since
many
of its members are longer in the industry than I would ever be, and have
employed such solutions in real life situations.
>In line with this, major applications within Diliman are being migrated
from
>Windows-based to Linux based starting with the Computerized Registration
>System (hopefully, the new version will be up in time for next year's
second
>semester) and the Faculty Information System.
Cool! I was already impressed with CRS, though it was MS-based back then and
have some faults (some of my friends in UPDil have not so good experiences
with CRS). I don't know the case in my own campus as of yet, but I think
they're working on a free software solution for our registration system.
Anyway, I'm not into GUI designing altogether too (I prefer making small
command line tools that are simple enough to use, though simple != easy for
all instances).
>Who says Linux is dead in Diliman? ;-)
I won't... :)
Paolo Alexis Falcone
==
--o000o--
Prof. Rommel Palma Feria, MSc, SCJP2
Health Informatics and Mobile & Wireless Computing Group
Dept. of Computer Science
College of Engineering
University of the Philippines - Diliman
Quezon City 1101 Philippines
TeleFax: +63-2-4343639
Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
--o000o--
Lead, follow or get out of the way!
_
Philippine Linux Users Group. Web site and archives at http://plug.linux.org.ph
To leave: send "unsubscribe" in the body to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To subscribe to the Linux Newbies' List: send "subscribe" in the body to
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
