A Discipline of Programming - Softcover

Edsger W. Dijkstra

  • 4.23 out of 5 stars
    183 ratings by Goodreads
 
9780132158718: A Discipline of Programming
Softcover
ISBN 10: 013215871X ISBN 13: 9780132158718
Publisher: Pearson, 1976

Synopsis

Clean wraps, corners square, lay flat. No creases to the spine, or hinge. Small frayed spot at the top of the spine. No previous owner's name, no other marks in text. Well kept copy.

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

Review

Author Edsger W. Dijkstra introduces A Discipline of Programming with the statement, "My original idea was to publish a number of beautiful algorithms in such a way that the reader could appreciate their beauty." In this classic work, Dijkstra achieves this goal and accomplishes a great deal more.

He begins by considering the questions, "What is an algorithm?" and "What are we doing when we program?" These questions lead him to an interesting digression on the semantics of programming languages, which, in turn, leads to essays on programming language constructs, scoping of variables, and array references. Dijkstra then delivers, as promised, a collection of beautiful algorithms.

These algorithms are far ranging, covering mathematical computations, various kinds of sorting problems, pattern matching, convex hulls, and more. Because this is an old book, the algorithms presented are sometimes no longer the best available. However, the value in reading A Discipline of Programming is to absorb and understand the way that Dijkstra thought about these problems, which, in some ways, is more valuable than a thousand algorithms.

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.

Publisher
Pearson
Publication date
1976
Language
English
ISBN 10 
013215871X
ISBN 13 
9780132158718
Binding
Paperback
Number of pages
217
Rating
  • 4.23 out of 5 stars
    183 ratings by Goodreads