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Re: [OT] Bad CS course, no cookie

From Ben Bacarisse <ben.usenet@bsb.me.uk>
Newsgroups comp.lang.c++
Subject Re: [OT] Bad CS course, no cookie
Date 2022-08-26 00:33 +0100
Organization A noiseless patient Spider
Message-ID <87fshjaof5.fsf@bsb.me.uk> (permalink)
References (16 earlier) <6aeee22b-9030-481e-86cb-4a47c6746f0bn@googlegroups.com> <871qt4wb6l.fsf@bsb.me.uk> <te8fea$3n8bn$1@dont-email.me> <87pmgoukrd.fsf_-_@bsb.me.uk> <te8os1$3o329$1@dont-email.me>

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David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> writes:

> 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)

A well-known quote meaning pretty much the opposite of the remark that
piqued my interest.

> 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.)

There are few books on that sort of topic.  Hoare's comes to mind.

> 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.

You could just have said "no"!

-- 
Ben.

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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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