Welcome to the Spring 2006 session of Grinnell College's CSC 302,
Programming Language Concepts. The course is described
fairly well in the official blurb. My take on this course is that
we'll be expanding your knowledge of the programming language paradigms
while investigating design issues in programming languages. While we
will touch on (and use) a number of languages, most of the emphasis will
be on higher-level issues.
I've taught CSC302 (and a course like it at Dartmouth) for a number of
years. This year, I'm making some significant changes in the course.
I've dropped some topics I've traditionally taught and added some
new topics. Perhaps most importantly, I've re-emphasized primary
readings (rather than textbooks) and I've decided to incorporate
more readings from the world of practice, rather than just the
languages community. (The central example of the latter is Bruce Tate's
Beyond Java, but I'm also incorporating some essays from
Paul Graham's Hackers & Painters and associated stuff
available on the Web.) Expect the syllabus to change regularly as
I figure out what I want to emphasize and deemphasize.
You may also find it useful to read the class faq.
Meets: MWF 11:00-11:50 in Science 2435.
Instructor:
Samuel A. Rebelsky,
Science 2427. Office hours MTuTh 1:15-2:05
Regular Work:
Because you will often be reading primary materials, rather than
distillations of those materials, I will expect you to read those
materials carefully and to reflect on them. For each reading, you
will send me a one-paragraph reflection on some aspect of the reading.
You will also have a weekly assignment on general language issues.
Grading (subject to change):
- Class participation: 15%
- Reflections on readings: 15%
- Presentation: 15%
- Regular homework (2): 15%
- Mid-semester examination: 15%
- Final examination: 15%
- Best of [reflections,presentation,homework,midsem,final]: 10%
My experience shows that students who turn in work late learn
significantly less than students who turn material in on time. (I'm
not sure about cause and effect.) Hence, I strongly discourage late
assignments. Unless prior arrangements have been made, assignments
are due within five minutes of the start of class. After that they are
considered late. Late assignments are penalized one letter grade per
day late (or fraction thereof).
Textbooks:
Tate, Bruce (2005). Beyond Java. Sebastapol, CA: O'Reilly
and Associates. ISBN: 0-596-10094-9
As I mention above, I'm restructuring the class to give you a bit
more of a sense of what real programmers are saying about languages.
Tate's book gives a good view of why Java was successful, why some
better languages were less successful, and what might lead other
languages to success or failure.
We will also use a variety of readings from the
literature
, which I will distribute to you as appropriate.
Warning!
At times I will post your work or notes about you in the course web.
I tend to leave everything available for past and future generations.
If you would like the references to you deleted, please notify me
after the semester has ended.
;
Check with Bobby