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Re: [OT] Bad CS course, no cookie (Was: To C or not to C++)

From David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no>
Newsgroups comp.lang.c++
Subject Re: [OT] Bad CS course, no cookie (Was: To C or not to C++)
Date 2022-08-25 23:16 +0200
Organization A noiseless patient Spider
Message-ID <te8os1$3o329$1@dont-email.me> (permalink)
References (17 earlier) <87y1vcwo4q.fsf@bsb.me.uk> <6aeee22b-9030-481e-86cb-4a47c6746f0bn@googlegroups.com> <871qt4wb6l.fsf@bsb.me.uk> <te8fea$3n8bn$1@dont-email.me> <87pmgoukrd.fsf_-_@bsb.me.uk>

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On 25/08/2022 22:32, Ben Bacarisse wrote:
> David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> writes:
> 
>> When I did theoretical computer science at university, we used
>> whatever type was convenient and appropriate for the task at hand (and
>> more often than not it was "alpha" or "A", rather than any specific
>> type).  And that was for "there's no need to test the code, because we
>> prove it is correct on the blackboard" programming, which is as
>> academic as it comes.
> 
> Care to name and shame?  That's an extraordinary thing to say (if it was
> not a joke)?
> 

"Beware of bugs in the above code; I have only proved it correct, not 
tried it."  (Donald Knuth)

Several of our courses covered provable code, with mathematical 
derivation from specifications through to code.  The "programming" 
language was somewhat idealised and limited and had no implementation - 
the idea was that if you wanted to use the code, you'd translate the 
derived algorithm into a practical real language.

So if you want to look at sorting algorithms, for example, you start 
with a list of items of some type (the type does not matter), and a post 
condition that the list is sorted.  You work through step by step, with 
each step justified mathematically, until you have "executable" code at 
the end.  If you have made no mistakes underway, you have a proven 
correct implementation of the specifications - not just one that has 
passed some test cases.

(You can look up the book "Programming from Specifications" by Carroll 
Morgan, which is freely available.)

I think the only programming language that we were actually taught was a 
functional programming language very much like Haskell.  When we had 
practical work that involved actual programming on computers, we were 
expected to learn whatever language the course tutor thought appropriate 
for the task - C, Modula 2, and Occam, perhaps more.

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To C or not to C++ NOSPAM.Alan.Beck@darkrealms.ca (Alan Beck) - 2022-08-08 09:43 +0000
  Re: To C or not to C++ Paavo Helde <eesnimi@osa.pri.ee> - 2022-08-08 20:02 +0300
  Re: To C or not to C++ Juha Nieminen <nospam@thanks.invalid> - 2022-08-09 05:38 +0000
    Re: To C or not to C++ Ralf Fassel <ralfixx@gmx.de> - 2022-08-09 11:07 +0200
      Re: To C or not to C++ Manfred <noname@add.invalid> - 2022-08-10 02:25 +0200
        Re: To C or not to C++ Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2022-08-09 17:52 -0700
          Re: To C or not to C++ Malcolm McLean <malcolm.arthur.mclean@gmail.com> - 2022-08-09 21:39 -0700
            Re: To C or not to C++ Muttley@dastardlyhq.com - 2022-08-10 07:45 +0000
          Re: To C or not to C++ scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2022-08-10 19:50 +0000
            Re: To C or not to C++ Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2022-08-10 13:13 -0700
            Re: To C or not to C++ Manfred <noname@add.invalid> - 2022-08-11 04:29 +0200
        Re: To C or not to C++ Juha Nieminen <nospam@thanks.invalid> - 2022-08-10 02:41 +0000
        Re: To C or not to C++ Muttley@dastardlyhq.com - 2022-08-10 07:39 +0000
          Re: To C or not to C++ Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2022-08-10 10:11 -0700
            Re: To C or not to C++ Muttley@dastardlyhq.com - 2022-08-12 08:23 +0000
              Re: To C or not to C++ Juha Nieminen <nospam@thanks.invalid> - 2022-08-12 12:12 +0000
                Re: To C or not to C++ Muttley@dastardlyhq.com - 2022-08-12 14:41 +0000
                Re: To C or not to C++ Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2022-08-12 12:09 -0700
                Re: To C or not to C++ David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2022-08-13 10:28 +0200
                Re: To C or not to C++ Muttley@dastardlyhq.com - 2022-08-13 09:37 +0000
              Re: To C or not to C++ Paavo Helde <eesnimi@osa.pri.ee> - 2022-08-12 15:55 +0300
                Re: To C or not to C++ Muttley@dastardlyhq.com - 2022-08-12 14:43 +0000
                Re: To C or not to C++ Paavo Helde <eesnimi@osa.pri.ee> - 2022-08-12 18:07 +0300
                Re: To C or not to C++ Muttley@dastardlyhq.com - 2022-08-12 15:14 +0000
                Re: To C or not to C++ Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2022-08-12 12:11 -0700
                Re: To C or not to C++ Muttley@dastardlyhq.com - 2022-08-13 09:38 +0000
                Re: To C or not to C++ David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2022-08-13 17:56 +0200
                Re: To C or not to C++ Paavo Helde <eesnimi@osa.pri.ee> - 2022-08-24 11:32 +0300
                Re: To C or not to C++ Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2022-08-24 11:33 +0100
                Re: To C or not to C++ Malcolm McLean <malcolm.arthur.mclean@gmail.com> - 2022-08-24 04:37 -0700
                Re: To C or not to C++ Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2022-08-24 13:31 +0100
                Re: To C or not to C++ Muttley@dastardlyhq.com - 2022-08-24 14:09 +0000
                Re: To C or not to C++ Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2022-08-24 15:31 +0100
                Re: To C or not to C++ Muttley@dastardlyhq.com - 2022-08-24 14:38 +0000
                Re: To C or not to C++ Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2022-08-24 15:57 +0100
                Re: To C or not to C++ Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2022-08-24 10:41 -0700
                Re: To C or not to C++ Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2022-08-24 21:48 +0100
                Re: To C or not to C++ "Alf P. Steinbach" <alf.p.steinbach@gmail.com> - 2022-08-25 07:34 +0200
                Re: To C or not to C++ Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2022-08-25 11:29 +0100
                Re: To C or not to C++ Malcolm McLean <malcolm.arthur.mclean@gmail.com> - 2022-08-25 04:14 -0700
                Re: To C or not to C++ Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2022-08-25 12:36 +0100
                Re: To C or not to C++ Malcolm McLean <malcolm.arthur.mclean@gmail.com> - 2022-08-25 05:16 -0700
                Re: To C or not to C++ Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2022-08-25 17:16 +0100
                Re: To C or not to C++ David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2022-08-25 20:35 +0200
                [OT] Bad CS course, no cookie (Was: To C or not to C++) Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2022-08-25 21:32 +0100
                Re: [OT] Bad CS course, no cookie (Was: To C or not to C++) David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2022-08-25 23:16 +0200
                Re: [OT] Bad CS course, no cookie Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2022-08-26 00:33 +0100
                Re: [OT] Bad CS course, no cookie David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2022-08-26 10:39 +0200
                Re: [OT] Bad CS course, no cookie Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk> - 2022-08-26 10:57 +0100
                Re: [OT] Bad CS course, no cookie David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2022-08-26 12:49 +0200
                Re: To C or not to C++ Malcolm McLean <malcolm.arthur.mclean@gmail.com> - 2022-08-25 19:56 -0700
                Re: To C or not to C++ David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2022-08-26 10:47 +0200
                Re: To C or not to C++ Malcolm McLean <malcolm.arthur.mclean@gmail.com> - 2022-08-26 02:48 -0700
                Re: To C or not to C++ David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2022-08-26 13:02 +0200
                Re: To C or not to C++ Malcolm McLean <malcolm.arthur.mclean@gmail.com> - 2022-08-26 04:57 -0700
                Re: To C or not to C++ David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2022-08-26 14:55 +0200
                Re: To C or not to C++ Malcolm McLean <malcolm.arthur.mclean@gmail.com> - 2022-08-26 06:20 -0700
                Re: To C or not to C++ Manfred <noname@add.invalid> - 2022-08-27 18:44 +0200
                Re: To C or not to C++ David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2022-08-28 11:30 +0200
                Re: To C or not to C++ Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2022-08-25 10:06 -0700
                Re: To C or not to C++ Malcolm McLean <malcolm.arthur.mclean@gmail.com> - 2022-08-25 10:32 -0700
                Re: To C or not to C++ Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2022-08-25 11:36 -0700
                Re: To C or not to C++ David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2022-08-25 20:47 +0200
                Re: To C or not to C++ Manfred <noname@add.invalid> - 2022-08-26 03:11 +0200
                Re: To C or not to C++ David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2022-08-25 09:21 +0200
                Re: To C or not to C++ scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2022-08-25 12:58 +0000
                Re: To C or not to C++ Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2022-08-25 10:23 -0700
                Re: To C or not to C++ David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2022-08-25 20:51 +0200
                Re: To C or not to C++ Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2022-08-25 12:14 -0700
                Re: To C or not to C++ scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2022-08-24 13:56 +0000
                Re: To C or not to C++ Paavo Helde <eesnimi@osa.pri.ee> - 2022-08-24 17:18 +0300
                Re: To C or not to C++ Muttley@dastardlyhq.com - 2022-08-24 14:25 +0000
                Re: To C or not to C++ scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2022-08-12 16:46 +0000
                Re: To C or not to C++ Juha Nieminen <nospam@thanks.invalid> - 2022-08-15 06:16 +0000
                Re: To C or not to C++ Muttley@dastardlyhq.com - 2022-08-15 19:01 +0000
                Re: To C or not to C++ Bo Persson <bo@bo-persson.se> - 2022-08-15 22:22 +0200
                Re: To C or not to C++ David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2022-08-16 08:48 +0200
                Re: To C or not to C++ Muttley@dastardlyhq.com - 2022-08-16 19:19 +0000
                Re: To C or not to C++ Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2022-08-16 12:56 -0700
                Re: To C or not to C++ Muttley@dastardlyhq.com - 2022-08-17 18:47 +0000
                Re: To C or not to C++ Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2022-08-17 14:49 -0700
                Re: To C or not to C++ Muttley@dastardlyhq.com - 2022-08-18 14:49 +0000
                Re: To C or not to C++ Manfred <noname@add.invalid> - 2022-08-19 03:10 +0200
                Re: To C or not to C++ d thiebaud <thiebauddick2@aol.com> - 2022-08-18 22:12 -0400
                Re: To C or not to C++ Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2022-08-18 20:08 -0700
                Re: To C or not to C++ Muttley@dastardlyhq.com - 2022-08-19 10:39 +0000
                Re: To C or not to C++ Juha Nieminen <nospam@thanks.invalid> - 2022-08-17 06:45 +0000
                Re: To C or not to C++ Muttley@dastardlyhq.com - 2022-08-17 18:48 +0000
                Re: To C or not to C++ Muttley@dastardlyhq.com - 2022-08-16 19:16 +0000
              Re: To C or not to C++ Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2022-08-12 12:03 -0700
        Re: To C or not to C++ David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2022-08-10 10:13 +0200
          Re: To C or not to C++ Manfred <noname@add.invalid> - 2022-08-11 04:25 +0200
            Re: To C or not to C++ Malcolm McLean <malcolm.arthur.mclean@gmail.com> - 2022-08-11 01:03 -0700
            Re: To C or not to C++ Juha Nieminen <nospam@thanks.invalid> - 2022-08-11 08:11 +0000
            Re: To C or not to C++ David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2022-08-11 13:53 +0200
              Re: To C or not to C++ Manfred <noname@add.invalid> - 2022-08-13 04:13 +0200
                Re: To C or not to C++ David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2022-08-13 21:13 +0200
                Re: To C or not to C++ Malcolm McLean <malcolm.arthur.mclean@gmail.com> - 2022-08-13 12:29 -0700
                Re: To C or not to C++ Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2022-08-13 13:12 -0700
                Re: To C or not to C++ David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2022-08-14 00:44 +0200
            Re: To C or not to C++ Öö Tiib <ootiib@hot.ee> - 2022-08-12 02:54 -0700
              Re: To C or not to C++ Keith Thompson <Keith.S.Thompson+u@gmail.com> - 2022-08-12 12:12 -0700
                Re: To C or not to C++ Malcolm McLean <malcolm.arthur.mclean@gmail.com> - 2022-08-12 16:22 -0700
                Re: To C or not to C++ Öö Tiib <ootiib@hot.ee> - 2022-08-12 17:49 -0700
                Re: To C or not to C++ Manfred <noname@add.invalid> - 2022-08-13 03:16 +0200
                Re: To C or not to C++ Öö Tiib <ootiib@hot.ee> - 2022-08-13 09:08 -0700
                Re: To C or not to C++ Tim Rentsch <tr.17687@z991.linuxsc.com> - 2022-08-15 14:44 -0700
        Re: To C or not to C++ Ralf Fassel <ralfixx@gmx.de> - 2022-08-10 12:06 +0200
        Re: To C or not to C++ Juha Nieminen <nospam@thanks.invalid> - 2022-08-11 07:04 +0000
  Re: To C or not to C++ Bonita Montero <Bonita.Montero@gmail.com> - 2022-08-09 12:31 +0200
    Re: To C or not to C++ Muttley@dastardlyhq.com - 2022-08-09 15:59 +0000
    Re: To C or not to C++ Frederick Virchanza Gotham <cauldwell.thomas@gmail.com> - 2022-08-19 04:09 -0700
  Re: To C or not to C++ "Chris M. Thomasson" <chris.m.thomasson.1@gmail.com> - 2022-08-13 12:17 -0700
  Re: To C or not to C++ "Chris M. Thomasson" <chris.m.thomasson.1@gmail.com> - 2022-08-27 23:15 -0700

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