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Submit Link | RSS Feed |An article that describes the problems with teaching languages that lack pointers, like Java, in CS and SOEN programs.
I have a big problem CS and SOEN programs in university becoming easier and more like trade schools. A big part of me would love to rewind my academic career by ten years so that I could go to a “more difficult” university that would of pushed me more mentally.
Reading The Perils of Java Schools reminded me of this paper I read a few years ago by Parnas and Soltys which proposes the areas of theory are quite relevant to Software Engineering and should be considered as basic science for that field.
It is this understanding of Computer Science theory, and not details of industry’s programming language flavour of the day, that is the basis of Spolsky’s argument, but he only highlights a few of the topics. This paper summarises several of the key topic areas and includes many illustrations to support them as educational requirements. It should be noted that the illustrations are not focused on a particular technology, but rather how to use fundamental laws to identify the capabilities and limitations of all technologies.
“Computerworld’s Gary Anthes recently asked six CS professors what lies ahead for the field.”
Grady Booch responds to an article we just indexed about computer science education where he covers his views.
He also covers, to a certain extent, what he feel to be the difference between computer science and software engineering.