X-Mailer: ELM [version 2.3 PL11]
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.psycgrad
Date:         Mon, 17 Aug 1992 18:19:04 PDT
              <PSYCGRAD@UOTTAWA.BITNET>
From:         Rick Adams <adamsr@NETCOM.COM>
Subject:      Re: Computer Languages
X-To:         PSYCGRAD%UOTTAWA.BITNET@pucc.Princeton.EDU
              92 1:17 pm

==>
==> Next week I will be starting a readings class, where we will be learning a
==> programming language (our program requires two computer classes).  I
==> have a choice between Pascal and C++.  I would appreciate any info anybody
 has
==> on either of the languages.  I have no experience with either one, but
==> would like to know some of the benefits and drawbacks of each before
==> I make the choice.  Also, I was wondering if other programs have
==> computer programming requirements.
==>

	Briefly:

	c++ is the current language of choice for professional programming.
It is immensely flexible, object oriented, adaptable to any platform,
extensible, supports a variety of memory models, and creates compact code.

	If there was a _single_ term above which you did not understand, and
if you are not planning on using the language professionally, you are out of
your mind if you choose c++!

	c in general, and c++ in particular, are incredibly unfriendly
languages for the novice. For a professional, the work required to learn c++
will be repaid by increased efficiency later - for someone who does NOT plan
a career in programing (or who is not a dedicated computer hacker), it means
an enormous investment of time and energy to learn something that will
provide little value in the future.

	Here is a *simple* c++ program (from  Lafore, R. (1990).
_The_Waite_Group's_C_programming_using_Turbo_C++_. Carmel, IN: Sams.):

	class base
	{
	   private:
		int base_priv;
	   protected:
		int base_prot;
	   public:
		int base_publ;
	};
	class pub_derv : public base
	{
	};
	pub_derv pub_derv1;
	class prv_derv : private base
	{
	};
	prv_derv prv_derv1;
	main()
	{
	   pub_derv1.base_priv = 1;
	   pub_derv1.base_prot = 1;
	   pub_derv1.base_publ = 1;
	   prv_derv1.base_priv = 1;
	   prv_derv1.base_prot = 1;
	   prv_derv1.base_publ = 1;
	}

	That was an _extremely_ simple example of c++ coding!

	A simple Pascal example (from Beer, M. (1982). _Programming_
microcomputers_with_Pascal_. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold.):

	PROGRAM printer(input,output);
	VAR
	   ch	: char;

	BEGIN
	   page(output);
	   writeln;
	   writeln;
	   writeln('PRINTER OPTION SELECTION PROGRAM.');
	   writeln;
	. . . (repetitive code omitted to save space here)
	   IF (ch='A') OR (ch='B') OR (ch='C') THEN
		CASE ch OF
		   'A' : write(chr(29));
		   'B' : write(chr(30));
		   'C' : write(chr(31));
		END
	   ELSE
		BEGIN
		   writeln;
		   writeln;
		   writeln('THIS IS NOT AN ALLOWABLE OPTION');
		END
	END.

	Take your pick - but I know which language *I* would select if it
were a requirement of a program,  versus personal interest (btw, I program
in both as well as Cobol, BASIC, Fortran, ADA, and a few others - and c++
was by FAR the most difficult to learn!).

--
    rick.adams on GEnie   /|\        You are right from your side,
     adamsr@netcom.com  /  |  \        And I am right from mine.
    adamsr@irie.ais.org \ /|\ /  We're both just one too many mornings,
   adamsr@norwich.bitnet  \|/  And a thousand miles behind. (c Bob Dylan)
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