Introduction to Computing and Algorithms

by Russell L. Shackelford

This work prepares students for the world of computing by giving them a solid foundation in the science of computer science, algorithms. By taking an algorithm-based approach to the subject, this introductory text seeks to help students grasp overall concepts, rather than bogging them down in specific syntax detail of a programming language that can become obsolete quickly.

Genres: Computer Science

440 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

Reviews

[knoba]

.
.
Part 1. The computing perspective
1. Technology, science and change
2. Overview of algorithms
Part 2. The algorithm toolkit
3. Basic data, operations and decisions
4. Tools for procedural abstraction
5. Tools for data abstraction
6. Algorithmic methods
7. Tools for estimating cost & complexity
8. Tools for verifying correctness
9. Tools for behavioural abstraction
Part 3. The limits of computing
10. Concurrency & parallelism
11. Hierarchies of complexity
Part 4 (Appendix). Pseudocode examples

[David]

The "Food for Thought" anecdotes at the end of each chapter earned the 4th star. I'll be keeping this book just to refer back to these.

Otherwise, overall it's not a bad place to start to practice thinking algorithmically. I read it in tandem with learning C++ and it was effective.

[Randall]

Dated, in some respects, but the way it is written is still salient in the modern era.