Aihuxs.121 net.followup utzoo!decvax!harpo!ihnss!ihuxs!steffen Thu May 6 13:32:49 1982 Dijkstra Have you noticed how Dijkstra is trying to take the computer out of Computer Science, i.e., he always calls it Computing Science. It it typical of his SIGPLAN articles to list everything he doesn't like on a subject and nothing that he does. I am left with the impression that he doesn't like any programming language except the notation he used in his programming methodology book. I suspect that he hates programming and is trying to remold Computer Science into a mathematical discipline because that is the only aspect of it he likes. Hence the term "Computing Science" and the statement that "a mathematical inclination... is the most vital asset of a competent programmer." In nine years of programming I have never used any math beyond simple arithmetic; and yet I've had no difficulty programming compilers, data base generators, and telephone switching system. I wasn't the slightest bit uncomfortable after reading Dijkstra's list of things he doesn't like. I respect his work on semaphores and structured programming, but I resent his dogmatic opinions being published as the "Truth According to Dijkstra." I'm waiting for him to publish "The Bible of Computing Science." Joe Steffen Bell Labs, Indian Hill (312) 979-5381 UUCPnet: ucbvax!ihnss!ihuxs!steffen ----------------------------------------------------------------- gopher://quux.org/ conversion by John Goerzen of http://communication.ucsd.edu/A-News/ This Usenet Oldnews Archive article may be copied and distributed freely, provided: 1. There is no money collected for the text(s) of the articles. 2. The following notice remains appended to each copy: The Usenet Oldnews Archive: Compilation Copyright (C) 1981, 1996 Bruce Jones, Henry Spencer, David Wiseman.