Using Ada and C++ in computer science education

Abstract

Undergraduate students of Computer Science or Software Engineering must become familiar with imperative programming languages, due to the extensive use of these languages in industry. Perhaps the two most interesting imperative languages, from a technical standpoint, are Ada and C++, as these two languages include a number of modern features and enjoy widespread popularity. We argue that a four-year undergraduate curriculum in Computer Science which emphasizes imperative programming languages benefits from a thorough coverage of Ada in the first two years, while deferring the direct use of C++ until the junior year. The argument is supported by an overview of the technical features of Ada and C++ which both aid and hinder the learning of software development skills.