Discovering Computer Science

“Havill's problem-driven approach introduces algorithmic concepts in context and motivates students with a wide range of interests and backgrounds.”

-- Janet Davis, Associate Professor and Microsoft Chair of Computer Science, Whitman College

“This book looks really great and takes exactly the approach I think should be used for a CS 1 course. I think it really fills a need in the textbook landscape.”

-- Marie desJardins, Dean of the College of Organizational, Computational, and Information Sciences, Simmons University

“Havill's broad and applications-driven introduction gives students a strong foundation as they begin to explore our field. Topics that students will study in more depth in later courses are introduced in context along a path of discovery for the fundamentals and breadth of computing. Problem solving paradigms and the structures to implement and test their results are presented as intuitive solutions to real-world problems like DNA sequencing and social network analysis, empowering the reader to understand why programming structures exist and how to use them to solve problems effectively and efficiently. Discovering Computer Science is a refreshing departure from introductory programming texts, offering students a much more sincere introduction to the breadth and complexity of this ever-growing field.”

-- James Deverick, Senior Lecturer, The College of William and Mary

“Programming is an essential skill of modern problem solving. But students can gain traction on authentic problems only when they have learned to model, decompose, approximate, and recompose real-world systems into a form suited to computing. This unique introduction to the science of computing guides students through broad and universal approaches to problem solving in a variety of contexts and their ultimate implementation as computer programs.”

-- Daniel Kaplan, DeWitt Wallace Professor, Macalester College

“Havill's problem-driven approach introduces algorithmic concepts in context and motivates students with a wide range of interests and backgrounds.”

-- Janet Davis, Associate Professor and Microsoft Chair of Computer Science, Whitman College

“This book looks really great and takes exactly the approach I think should be used for a CS 1 course. I think it really fills a need in the textbook landscape.”

-- Marie desJardins, Dean of the College of Organizational, Computational, and Information Sciences, Simmons University

“Havill's broad and applications-driven introduction gives students a strong foundation as they begin to explore our field. Topics that students will study in more depth in later courses are introduced in context along a path of discovery for the fundamentals and breadth of computing. Problem solving paradigms and the structures to implement and test their results are presented as intuitive solutions to real-world problems like DNA sequencing and social network analysis, empowering the reader to understand why programming structures exist and how to use them to solve problems effectively and efficiently. Discovering Computer Science is a refreshing departure from introductory programming texts, offering students a much more sincere introduction to the breadth and complexity of this ever-growing field.”

-- James Deverick, Senior Lecturer, The College of William and Mary

“Programming is an essential skill of modern problem solving. But students can gain traction on authentic problems only when they have learned to model, decompose, approximate, and recompose real-world systems into a form suited to computing. This unique introduction to the science of computing guides students through broad and universal approaches to problem solving in a variety of contexts and their ultimate implementation as computer programs.”

-- Daniel Kaplan, DeWitt Wallace Professor, Macalester College