10 May
2010
10 May
'10
12:12 p.m.
> How can BASIC not be taught? Every computer has
it's own version of BASIC,
> whereas (as I understand it) Visual Basic is only available for modern
> computers.
On Mon, 10 May 2010, Gene Buckle wrote:
Visual Basic 1.0 is for DOS and Microsoft PDS 7.1 and
QuickBASIC 4.5 can
be found on various abandonware sites. Interesting note - QB45 is
available via the MSDN, but PDS71 isn't.
The curriculum committee is rather hostile to the idea of teaching stuff
"found on various abandonware sites". Besides, what's wrong with GWBASIC?
I used to be able to get K&R past them by calling it "a classic work", and
by declaring it to be one of two texts for the class (the other being some
modern POS that we never bothered to open)
For a FIRST class in C, the commonly used textbooks are Deitel (600p, of
which 300 are about C, plus discussion of C++, Java, etc.), and "C Primer
Plus". Both are pretty good for beginners, but neither prepares the
student for what will happen when scanf is fed unformatted/sloppy data.
--
Grumpy Ol' Fred cisin at xenosoft.com