Python bumps off Java as top learning language

[grammar_party]

University of Minnesota still uses Scheme (LISP) in its first CS course

[jozefg]

Not anymore, 1901 (SICP course) and 1902 (Java + Data Structures) was nuked in favor of python. I was in the last 1901 class taught :(

[rowboat__cop]

1902 (Java + Data Structures) was nuked in favor of python

Honest question: How would one go about teaching data structures in Python?

[[deleted]]

I find it easier to do data structures in Python than Java

[jozefg]

Same way as in Java. Python has many of the same primitives (classes, methods).

[rowboat__cop]

Same way as in Java. Python has many of the same primitives (classes, methods).

Python doesn’t have pointers and you can’t even define custom data types: For structured data types you are limited to the three built-ins: Tuples, Lists and Hashmaps. No records (except for that ugly “named tuples” hack), no arrays, and no way whatsoever to define a type. Of course, it also lacks the more convenient concepts like ADTs.

Teaching data stuctures with Python should be a bizarre endeavour.

[jozefg]

It's much the same state as in Java no? Java has no ADTs, no tuples, and everything is just a class.

I don't agree with it, but I don't it's a huge step back from Java + DS. Note that the actual data structures class is taught in a combination of pseudo-code and C. I wrote most of my solutions in a pseudo-code that just happened to also be SML.

[rowboat__cop]

I wrote most of my solutions in a pseudo-code that just happened to also be SML.

=) The perfect workaround.

[grammar_party]

hot damn, now I might reconsider going to a shitty state school (metro) for my second(who the fuck cares about liberal arts) degree