Customer Reviews

Extended Prelude to Programming (3rd Edition)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This text succeeds in providing the reader with a thorough introduction to programming logic without bogging the reader down with a lot of programming syntax. This text teaches you without the need to express itself in only one language. It basically teaches you the logic of programming. From there you can decide which language you want to learn. I can see how you could easily transition into C++ or even Java. This book is a must have for someone who is just getting started in programming and has no previous conceptions about languages.

This an interesting and great book for beginners on programming. Unlike other computer books, this book is more similar to a textbook with exercises and answers at the back of the book for practising and reviewing. An invaluable asset. So if you can follow the instructions of the writer and go through from page to page, you should have get a very good glimpse of programming.

This book is a great base builder for those people who know about computers but want to start getting into advance practices like programing. A great text book.

I have been a professional software developer for nearly 6 years. I only read this book recently because I am also a tutor and one of my students is taking a course that uses this book as the text. Maybe my view is a bit skewed having been "in the industry" as long as I have, but this book comes off to me as being rather dangerous. To be fair, however, there some good aspects and I will list those first.

GOOD POINTS:

- Detailed exposition on basic control structures such as IF-THEN statements, WHILE and FOR loops, and arrays.

- Use of flow charts! In all of my college courses I do not recall flow charts ever being used or discussed. Shame on them! In my mind, flowcharts are far more essential than using pseudo-code in the design and documentation of a program.


BAD POINTS:

- Improper breakdown of simple programs into "modules". For example, chapter 2 breaks down a simple calculation task 3 modules: (A.) collect user input, (B.) perform the calculation, (C.) write output. The implication is that when actually coding this program the modules would be separate functions. However, the only way to accomplish actual program coding in the same way as the pseudo-code is laid out would be to use global variables. It is common knowledge that global variables are DANGEROUS and should be avoided if at all possible.

- The book claims its pseudo-code is language independent, but 95% of it is clearly Visual Basic. At the same time, the book touts how its pseudo-code can be translated into any language -- specifically including C++. I'm sorry, but trying to convert this book's pseudo-code into C++ would be very prone to logical errors for the inexperienced programmer, ranging from (again) the use of global variables to how arrays are indexed to needing to negate the exit condition when converting from a "repeat...until" loop to a "do...while" loop. Because of the very different ways certain languages handle certain tasks, IMHO you can't have pseudo-code that is truly independent from any language. Trying to present Visual Basic-like pseudo-code as being cross-compatible with a C-based language is BAD, BAD, BAD!

- Lack of focus. Very early in the book there is a section inserted regarding "event driven" and "OOP" programming models. This is completely out of place because such models work very contrary to the "top-down" model employed by most of the book. It's like a commercial thrown in the middle of a suspenseful part of a movie when aired on TV.

- Use of pseudo-code for tasks that have no business being coded at all. Chapter 8 uses pseudo-code to define the layout for Windows forms interfaces. I'm stunned at the stupidity of this. Any good IDE, whether Microsoft, Borland, or whatever, include visual designers that automatically generate the thousands of lines of code that can be involved in form layout. Additionally, in the "real world" pre-planning Windows layouts is done by diagrams and illustrations so you as the programmer/consultant can give a visual preview to your clients. A pile of pseudo-code mumbo-jumbo wouldn't mean squat to the typical, barely-computer-literate client that thinks their CD-ROM drive is a coffee cup holder. Writing pseudo-code for this kind of thing is a futile and pointless activity.


The bottom line is this book is good for a general exposition on the control and data structures that are a part of any language. But as far as being a language-independent presentation of good programming techniques, you're better off reading an actual language-specific programming book.

the book is a typical college book. some things are easier to understand than others, some could be more elaborated on. it's ok I guess

This book is not very good if you expect answers with questions inside the material. I found it difficult to understand/learn the subject without knowing where you have failed at in the equations.

Thank you for the fast friendly service. I will continue business with you far into the future and I will request that my peers do the same.

Got the book fast and is in good condition. Great for the class I'm in.

I live overseas and the book arrived very quickly compared to most mail. The book was in great condition.

The product seem to take forever to get to me. From what I read on the description I was figuring just a little wear but not too much. After receiving the product it was not what I had expected from the description the seller gave. However it still worked great and there were no markings in the book.