HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: gorton@blorf.ltn.dec.com (Richard Gorton)
Newsgroups: comp.compilers
Subject: Re: run-time libraries
Keywords: library, comment
Date: 8 Oct 92 14:20:27 GMT
Article-I.D.: comp.92-10-035
Reply-To: gorton@blorf.ltn.dec.com (Richard Gorton)
Organization: Compilers Central

johnm@cory.berkeley.edu (John D. Mitchell) writes:
>I would suspect that anybody who doesn't implement a reasonable math
>library was just lazy. :-? ...> Depending on the hardware/software/OS/etc.
>it can be trivial to reasonably difficult to efficiently support both
>hardware based floating point and software emulation.

Case in point being the writing of math routines to support Extended
precision floating point (96 bit) for the first time.  How DOES one
represent those things in an implementation language which doesn't
inherently handle it? A structure of 3-32 bit integers and fiddle the bits
accordingly?  Seems straightforward, but remember, the resulting routines
_have_ to be correct, and fast.  A bit of chicken & egg problem.  Does the
compiler understand the datatype first or do the appropriate routines get
written first?

Things like extended precision COMPLEX operations for FORTRAN are fairly
complicated to do, as well as adding a lot more complexity to the datatype
conversion area.  Additionally, the compiler itself has to emit the
correct operators/datatype information about built-ins, and understand the
appropriate syntax.

If one isn't very careful about the runtime issues, innocuous looking
code can be performance bottlenecks.  For example (this is an actual excerpt
from GCC's strstr() routine)
------------------------------

 1:  register int len = strlen (s2);
 2:
 3:  for (; (p = strchr (p, *s2)) != 0; p++)
 4:    {
 5:      if (strncmp (p, s2, len) == 0)
 6:        {
 7:          return (p);
 8:        }
 9:    }
10:  return (0);

Seems innocuous enough, right?  However, the strlen on line 1 causes the
entire string s2 to be traversed an additional (unnecessary) time.  The
point is not to do GCC bashing, but rather that carefully crafted
run-times are also critical to achieve maximal performance.

------------------------------------
Richard Gorton		Alpha Migration Tools - Digital Equipment Corp.
Reply-to: gorton@tallis.enet.dec.com
[In fairness, though, many CISC machines such as the 80x86 and Vax have
instructions that implement strlen(), strchr(), and strncmp() very
efficiently so this code could be faster than looking at each character
once in a loop.  -John]
-- 
Send compilers articles to compilers@iecc.cambridge.ma.us or
{ima | spdcc | world}!iecc!compilers.  Meta-mail to compilers-request.
Newsgroups: comp.edu
From: rowe@netcom.com (Rick Rowe)
Subject: Newsletter for programmers
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services  (408 241-9760 guest) 
Date: Thu, 8 Oct 1992 01:14:48 GMT

Just another announcement regarding a newsletter dedicated to C Programming
education. It is called "The C Programmer's Network" and is a hardcopy
only newsletter with examples sent via E-mail or on PC type disks. It 
comes out every quarter and is beginning to get quite popular among
C programmers. 

I am posting this here for all you C instructors out there who would
like to get a free copy to distribute to your classes. Once you receive
it and decide it is worth passing on to your students, feel free to make
as many copies as you need for your students. 

Since i have to mail this out via snail mail (it is a hardcopy), i will
only send 1 copy per school.

If you are interested, please E-mail me your school's name and address
and i will send you out a copy. If you are an individual who is interested,
I will send you subscription info.

The newsletter attempts to pick interesting articles dealing with subjects
which tend to be tough for students. Previous articles included: drawing
diagrams of structure definitions, pointers, and unions. Future articles
will also deal with dynamic memory allocation, object oriented programming
using C, function pointers within structures, ...

I am always looking for interesting material. So if you have some write-ups
which have helped your students in the past, please E-mail it to me.

I realize C++ is now the hot topic, but i tell my students that C++ is not
just an addition to C. It is a tool for object oriented programming. Thus,
students typically start off with C and its related function oriented paradigm.
Then advance to the object oriented paradigm using C++. That is why I believe
C will always be an important first step for a programmer's first years of
training. (All us instructors have our own opinions, aye?) If a student can
not understand algebra, why advance to calculus...(Boy am i asking for it!)
Please, easy with the flames.

In any case, I have turned my opinions into actions which seem to have helped
my students. The C newsletter makes learning a bit more fun.

C YA! Rick Rowe


~

-- 
===========================================================================  
Rick Rowe - The C Programmers Network Newsletter+_   int x=10,y=20;       |
Editor      Internet: rowe@netcom.com           +_   x=x^y; y=y^x; x=x^y; | 
On a clear day you can C forever!               +_   /* getting dizzy? */ |
From: vogeli@straylight.mcs.gvsu.edu (Christian Vogeli)
Newsgroups: comp.edu
Subject: Need Help/Advice on Mandatory Computer Purchasing for Students
Date: 13 Oct 92 17:31:21 GMT
Organization: Grand Valley State University


My university is a large (10,000+) public institution.

In an effort improve the quality of instruction and ease the crowding in
our open-use computing labs, we are considering requiring all CS students
to purchase computers.

I know that several other institutions have already done this (or
something similar), but the "powers that be" here at GVSU need more
information before a final decision can be reached.

Any information positive or negative re: Mandatory Purchase Programs
would be greatly appreciated.  We are especially in need of data from
*public* colleges and universities.

Thanks in advance for your time.  Please reply to:

vogeli@straylight.mcs.gvsu.edu

--
=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=
| Dr. Christian Vogeli    Asst. Prof. of Computer Science |
| Grand Valley State University       Allendale, MI 49401 | 
| NeXT Developer                Allendale NUG Coordinator |
| NeXT Mail Accepted                       (616)-895-2306 |
=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=
From: kemnitz@netcom.com (Greg Kemnitz)
Newsgroups: comp.edu
Subject: Re: Need Help/Advice on Mandatory Computer Purchasing for Students
Date: 14 Oct 92 17:30:31 GMT
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services  (408 241-9760 guest)

Even though I am neither a student or professor, I'll go ahead and throw in
my $.02 on this discussion :-)

It seems to me that you have the following problems:

1.  Service and support problems.  Your students will have hundreds of
    computers of varying ages and configurations, and given Murphy's Law, they
    will all break down during final-project time :-)  Will support be the
    responsibility of the student?  If so, then completion of coursework will
    likely be as much a function of luck as diligence.  If not, you'll have
    incompletes up the yin-yang :-)

2.  Rapid obsolescence.  If students are required to buy a computer as
    freshmen, they will have a doorstop by their junior year.  Also, students
    who can afford to upgrade their computers will do so, so such a program 
    will give an advantage to wealthier students.  The assumption of a largely
    level playing field necessary for effective grading would be hindered.

3.  Lack of networking.  It will be much more difficult to do networking 
    with widely dispersed computers, and students will not get the feel for
    computer networks that they would get with most on-campus systems.  And
    they won't have the opportunity to read netnews :-)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Greg Kemnitz                        | "I ran out of the room - I
MultiMedia Information Systems Inc. | didn't want to be killed by a pile
kemnitz@multisys.com                | of VMS manuals" :-)
                                    |
                                    | --A friend at DEC Palo Alto in the Quake
Newsgroups: comp.edu
From: mazzucch@ghost.dsi.unimi.it (massimo mazzucchi)
Subject: PC GLOBE
Keywords: INFORMATION
Organization: Computer Science Dep. - Milan University
Date: Mon, 12 Oct 1992 09:18:58 GMT


HY

I am Max froma ITALY Milan

I want know if someone know if exist a programm like
PC-GLOBE or PC-USA about a part of town or a quarter
with information about population and othr info.

- if someone know that programm graphic it was used to
  realize PC-GLOBE or PC-USA


  Thanks for your help

  BYE


  My address is mazzucch@ghost.dsi.unimi.it
From: johnm@hitwr.hauppaugeNY.NCR.COM (johnm)
Newsgroups: comp.edu
Subject: 8051 Education
Date: 9 Oct 92 17:10:02 GMT
Reply-To: johnm@hitwr.hauppaugeNY.NCR.COM ()
Distribution: world
Organization: Applied Digital Data Systems

I have a question for the Intel experts. I am an Analog engineer 
looking to get some Microprocessor experience. Becaues of what
we use at work I have chosen the 8031/32/51/52 Micro series. I
bought a book from intel on the 8051, programming and applications with 
experiments but it requires an SDK-51 which Intel does not support. They
gave me the names of 2 companies that do but when I called them they 
said that they did not. Does any one know how I might proceed in 
educating my self.
An emulator is out of the question.

Thanks in advance.
John Mancino
ADDS-NCR 516-231-5400
From: mead@bucknell.edu (Jerry Mead)
Newsgroups: comp.edu
Subject: Modula-2 compilers on Suns
Keywords: Modula-2
Date: 15 Oct 92 13:26:13 GMT
Reply-To: mead@bucknell.edu
Organization: Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA
NNTP-Posting-Host: chief.cs.bucknell.edu


We are considering changing the language we use in our CS1/CS2 sequence.
Currently we do Pascal in the first course and then C++ in the second!
(No flames please :-).  We are discussing moving to a single language
for the two courses and Modula-2 is being considered.  I am interested
in your comments on the following two questions:

	1.  If you have switched from Pascal to Modula-2, what specific 
	    benefits did you find, or have you been disappointed with the
	    change.
	    
	2.  What Modula-2 compilers are out there which run on the Suns
	    and are they any good.  
	    
Thanks for your help.  If there is a reasonable response to these questions
I will summarize to the net.

---------------------

Jerry Mead
Dept of Computer Science
Bucknell University
Lewisburg, PA 17837
mead@bucknell.edu
Newsgroups: comp.edu,comp.admin.policy,comp.org.acm,chi.general,alt.bbs.internet
From: fcs$1224@altair.selu.edu
Newsgroups: comp.edu
Subject: Simulation Text with Compiler desired
Date: 12 Oct 92 13:53:25 GMT
Article-I.D.: altair.1992Oct12.195325.824
Organization: Southeastern Louisiana University

I will be teaching a course in simulation next semester.  I have
taught this course based on Fortran, SLAM and Simscript, using a
mainframe.  The students are juniors and seniors in Computer
Science.

This time I am giving serious consideration to using GPSS/H as one
textbook, _An Introduction to Simulation_, by Thomas J. Schriber,
John Wiley and Sons, 1990, provides a GPSS/H compiler on diskette
for the PC with the text.   Does anyone know of a text which
provides the compiler with the test other than this one?  Has
anyone used this text -- how did the students like it?


Tom

higginbotham@selu.edu
From: pattis@cs.washington.edu (Richard Pattis)
Newsgroups: comp.edu
Subject: Programming Assignments: A Small Survey
Summary: From language book or elsewhere
Date: 16 Oct 92 20:43:35 GMT
Article-I.D.: beaver.1992Oct16.204335.995
Organization: Computer Science & Engineering, U. of Washington, Seattle

In preparation for a SIGCSE panel, I would like to ask the following questions
of instructors who teach CS-1/CS-2. I'm trying to find out whether instructors
mostly assign programs directly from textbook (typically one that teaches a
language), get them from other books (problem books, either the instructor owns
or students buy) or write them up themselves.

1) What percentage of your programming assignments come directly from the
textbook? If not 100%, where do the assignments come from.

2) What percentage of assignments are the same as ones from previous terms?
That is, how much are assignments reused.

I'll tally and discard responses. I'll post the results to the net.

Rich

-- 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Richard E. Pattis			"Programming languages are like
  Department of Computer Science	 pizzas - they come in only "too"
    and Engineering			 sizes: too big and too small."
Newsgroups: comp.edu
From: kulla@casee.enet.dec.com (kulla)
Subject: Re: Need Help/Advice on Mandatory Computer Purchasing for Students
Reply-To: kulla@casee.enet.dec.com (kulla)
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation
Date: Thu, 15 Oct 1992 13:17:11 GMT


Back in '82 or '83 Drexel University (Phila, Pa) made the Mac a mandatory
computer for all incoming freshmen.  Although I was almost on my way
out of the college (I think I was a senior the year they initiated the
program), it seemed that they were producing an incredible amount of
computer literate students.  If I recall corectly, the mandatory computer
was for all majors, not only engineering related majors.  I wish I had
been entering the university at that time and was able to take advantage
of the atmosphere that it induced.

If you need information, maybe a call to their CS department may prove
helpful.  After all, they've been at it for over 10 years now.

Marc
e-mail: kulla@casee.enet.dec.com
From: pattis@cs.washington.edu (Richard Pattis)
Subject: Re: Modula-2 compilers on Suns
Summary: Pascal => Modula-2 => Ada
Keywords: Modula-2, Ada
Organization: Computer Science & Engineering, U. of Washington, Seattle
Date: Fri, 16 Oct 92 17:08:11 GMT

  University of Washington moved from Pascal to Modula-2 in 1985. I taught CS-1
and CS-2 in Modula-2 for almost 4 years (3 times each year). In 1989 we
switched to Ada and have not looked back.  After teaching these courses for an
equivalent amount of time, I assert that Ada is easier to teach than Modula-2
and that the power of generics, private types (that can be any type, not just
pointers), overloading, and exception processing makes it much easier to write
programs and reusable components in Ada.  We teach 1,200 students in CS-1 and
300 in CS-2 each year.

My students do I/O in Ada as simple as
  X:= Prompt("Enter INTEGER"); which can be overloaded for any type, and
  Put("Averaged " & N & " scores; average = " & Sum/Count);
An optional second parameter in Put specifies the number of carriage returns,
so Put("Hi",0); stays on the same line, while Put("Hi",2) skips a line.

  Alsys sells educational compilers for a host of machines, including Suns,
DECStations, VAXes, HPs, and RS/6000s for $500. DEC gives away their compiler
to anyone with an educational site license. PC product are available for around
$100 from Meridian and Alsys. Many of my students develop programs at home,
then upload them to turn them in.

  There are now Ada translations of the Pascal books by Koffman
(Feldman/Koffman) and Savitch (Savitch/Petersen) and a Dale/Weems transation
is in the works.  Besides Feldman's CS-2 book, Ada translations of Stubbs/Webre
and Weiss will be out early in 1993. Many other CS-1 and CS-2 books are in the
works.

  I'll stop wasting bandwidth here, but I'm glad to supply more details to back
up my claims in the first paragraph. Just e-mail me and we can connect on the
phone. 

Rich Pattis

-- 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Richard E. Pattis			"Programming languages are like
  Department of Computer Science	 pizzas - they come in only "too"
    and Engineering			 sizes: too big and too small."
From: rro@debussy.NoSubdomain.NoDomain (Rod Oldehoeft)
Newsgroups: comp.edu
Subject: Re: Need Help/Advice on Mandatory Computer Purchasing for Students
Date: 13 Oct 92 21:16:27 GMT
Reply-To: rro@cs.ColoState.EDU
Organization: Colorado State University

In article <1992Oct13.173121.27600@mcs.gvsu.edu>, vogeli@straylight.mcs.gvsu.edu (Christian Vogeli) writes:
|> 
|> My university is a large (10,000+) public institution.
|> 
|> In an effort improve the quality of instruction and ease the crowding in
|> our open-use computing labs, we are considering requiring all CS students
|> to purchase computers.
|> 
|> I know that several other institutions have already done this (or
|> something similar), but the "powers that be" here at GVSU need more
|> information before a final decision can be reached.
|> 
|> Any information positive or negative re: Mandatory Purchase Programs
|> would be greatly appreciated.  We are especially in need of data from
|> *public* colleges and universities.
|> 

I've given this some thought, but have not seriously considered implementing
it, since this is also a public university.  

I have spoken with the chair of a US public university where students,
as freshmen, have been required to buy UNIX boxes for some time now.
He reports two difficulties:  (1) since they buy them as freshmen, they
are boat anchors before the senior year, and problems arise in teaching
the senior courses the way they should be taught; (2) students turn into
solo hackers, not learning from each other in the public labs, and not
learning to work cooperatively just when industry emphasizes such skills.
He reported this to me with the understanding that I not identify his
institution if I passed it along.

While the cost of running labs is tremendous, a lot of learning goes on
there that would not take place if students are isolated in dorm rooms
or apartments.

I am interested in getting a UNIX box purchase program as an option for
students and staff established here.  But the potential for screwing up
your own system is so much greater than for DOX or Apple systems, and
since serious file backup is mandatory, it may be difficult to have a
sensible program of this kind.

-- 
|--------------------------------------------------------------|
| Rod Oldehoeft                    Email: rro@cs.colostate.edu |
| Computer Science Department      Voice: 303/491-5792         |
| Colorado State University        Fax:   303/491-6639         |
| Fort Collins, CO  80523                                      |
|--------------------------------------------------------------|
| I pay the price, but do not count the cost.                  |
|                            John Barth, "The Tidewater Tales" |
|--------------------------------------------------------------|
From: g_harrison@vger.nsu.edu (George C. Harrison, Norfolk State University)
Newsgroups: comp.edu
Subject: M.S. Development Courses??
Date: 7 Oct 92 22:20:03 GMT

Does anyone here have a syllabus/outline for a Immigration or Transitional
course or courses for students beginning a M.S. in Computer Science program? 
We would like to see an intensified course in prerequisite background material
and an introduction to the M.S. program's computing tools and facilities.  

The course does not need to cover ALL aspects of prerequisites but to allow a
student to recognize his/her weaknesses and to encourage the student to
self-study the requisite topics.

Thanks!

George 

George C. Harrison, Professor of Computer Science, Norfolk State University
2401 Corprew Avenue, Norfolk VA 23504
804-683-8654  
g_harrison@vger.nsu.edu
Newsgroups: comp.edu
From: rekha@iastate.edu (Rekha G Pai)
Subject: e-mail addresses of comp-eng depts
Organization: Iowa State University, Ames, IA
Date: Wed, 14 Oct 1992 18:59:28 GMT


Hi,
 I am a masters student in computer engineering in Iowa State University
 and i am thinking of doing a phd in a university which has good 
research going on in computer engineering and parallel processing.

could someone send me a list of e-mail addresses of the person
who has to be contacted for admission and research info in the 
computer engineering departments of the universities in the US

I have such a list for the computer science departments in case any
one is interested.

Thanks in advance.

Rekha Pai
Graduate Research Assistant
Scalable computing laboratory
Ameslab, U.S.D.O.E


Newsgroups: comp.edu
From: mrawls@norfolk.vak12ed.edu (Mary Sue Rawls)
Subject: Potassium Content
Organization: Virginia's Public Education Network (Norfolk)
Date: Fri, 16 Oct 92 18:06:05 GMT

I have been searching for the Potassium content of an orange
and a banana.  Please help.
From: cj914@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Dr. Iyad A. Natour)
Newsgroups: comp.edu
Subject: Software Engineering Information
Date: 14 Oct 1992 20:41:54 GMT
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio (USA)
NNTP-Posting-Host: hela.ins.cwru.edu


I need some help from people who taught Software Engineering course.

1) I need a syllabus/outline for an ADVANCED Software Engineering 
   course. This course will after an introductory course in the 
   subject. In the introductory course the students were introduced
   to S.E. life cycle. Each phase of the cycle was studied in some
   detail. Also, students were introduced to software project and
   planning.
2) Information about Software Engineering texts which use C or C++
3) Ideas for reasonable Software Engineering projects for an 
    introductory course  in the subject.

Thanks.

natouri@uwstout.edu
-- 
Iyad A. Natour
Math. Department
University of Wisconsin-Stout
Menomonie, WI 54751		BITNET: natouri@uwstout.edu
Xref: sparky comp.edu:1807 misc.education:3688
From: ndgarigl@rodan.acs.syr.edu (Nick D. Garigliano)
Newsgroups: comp.edu,misc.education
Subject: Educational programs for the Mac???
Date: 11 Oct 92 18:06:32 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY
Originator: ndgarigl@rodan.acs.syr.edu

I'm looking for ideas for an educational program for the Mac.  It is for a 
5 year old and I was hoping for something along the lines of a reading/spelling
program that is challenging, yet entertaining.  We already have played
with Kid Pix and would like to move on up.  If you could e-mail any 
suggestions I would appreciate it as work is pretty busy now, and I don't
have a lot of time to peruse the 'net.  THANKS
My e-mail address is ndgarigl@rodan.acs.syr.edu
Newsgroups: comp.edu
From: mazzucch@ghost.dsi.unimi.it (massimo mazzucchi)
Subject: pc-globe
Organization: Computer Science Dep. - Milan University
Date: Mon, 12 Oct 1992 12:57:05 GMT


HY

I am Max froma ITALY Milan

I want know if someone know if exist a programm like
PC-GLOBE or PC-USA about a part of town or a quarter
with information about population and othr info.

- if someone know that programm graphic it was used to
  realize PC-GLOBE or PC-USA


  Thanks for your help

  BYE


  My address is mazzucch@ghost.dsi.unimi.it 

Newsgroups: comp.edu
From: dbrown4@mach1.wlu.ca (david brown s)
Subject: Computational Science (Physics)
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1 PL6]
Summary: Looking for information
Organization: Wilfrid Laurier University
Date: Wed, 14 Oct 1992 17:55:18 GMT

I'm looking for information on undergraduate courses in Computational
Science or Computational Physics from any university or college.
We are considering adding such courses to our curriculum, and would
be interested in seeing how others offer such courses. Please e-mail
me directly (dbrown4@mach1.wlu.c)

David Brown
Physics & Computing
Wilfrid Laurier University
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada


Newsgroups: comp.edu