Introduction to the Art of Programming Using Scala (Chapman & Hall/CRC Textbooks in Computing) [Paperback]

Mark C. Lewis (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 5, 2012 | ISBN-10: 1439896666 | ISBN-13: 978-1439896662 | Edition: 1

With its flexibility for programming both small and large projects, Scala is an ideal language for teaching beginning programming. Yet there are no textbooks on Scala currently available for the CS1/CS2 levels. Introduction to the Art of Programming Using Scala presents many concepts from CS1 and CS2 using a modern, JVM-based language that works well for both programming in the small and programming in the large.

The book progresses from true programming in the small to more significant projects later, leveraging the full benefits of object orientation. It first focuses on fundamental problem solving and programming in the small using the REPL and scripting environments. It covers basic logic and problem decomposition and explains how to use GUIs and graphics in programs. The text then illustrates the benefits of object-oriented design and presents a large collection of basic data structures showing different implementations of key ADTs along with more atypical data structures. It also introduces multithreading and networking to provide further motivating examples.

By using Scala as the language for both CS1 and CS2 topics, this textbook gives students an easy entry into programming small projects as well as a firm foundation for taking on larger-scale projects. Many student and instructor resources are available at www.programmingusingscala.net

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This textbook for college programming courses is obviously aimed at students in computing, but it would also be useful for students in other fields since it is about problem solving. Software designers can also use it as a reference for many programming techniques. … this is great textbook, containing a huge amount of useful information for students."
—Claudiu Popescu, Computing Reviews, March 2013

Product Details

• Paperback: 936 pages
• Publisher: Chapman and Hall/CRC; 1 edition (November 5, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1439896666
• ISBN-13: 978-1439896662
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 6.9 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #708,403 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Mark Lewis is an Associate Professor of Computer Science at Trinity University in San Antonio, TX. He did his undergraduate work in Computer Science and Physics at Trinity before going to the University of Colorado at Boulder to work on a Ph.D. in Astrophysics and Planetary Science. His research work focuses on numerical simulations of planetary systems, particularly large N-body collisional simulations of planetary rings. The computational aspects of his research led him to complete a Masters degree in Computer Science while working on his Ph.D.

After completing his graduate studies, Dr. Lewis returned to Trinity as an Assistant Professor and has been teaching there since. His love of coding has led him to teach lots of introductory programming, in the hopes of passing on this love to the next generation. He originally learned Scala as a route to better understand the X10 and Fortress parallel languages, but fell in love with the expressive blend of object-oriented and functional programming. This love for Scala led to Trinity being the first University to adopt the language in CS1 and CS2 and the materials he created to teach that turned into his first textbook.

In addition to working to open students' eyes to the beauty of programming, Dr. Lewis also teaches the occasional Solar System Astronomy course and a section of Roller Skating every spring semester.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Well, the author is my professor, you see... February 3, 2013

By Anonymous

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

And although his classes are generally tough, they are extremely thought provoking and you end up learning a lot. This book does not fall short of his goal to make students think. I think that many professors would find themselves extremely satisfied should they choose to teach this book.