Preface

This book is specifically written to be used in two Virginia Community College System (VCCS) courses, CSC 215: Computer Systems and CSC 223: Data Structures and Anaylsys of Algorithms for the high school seniors in a dual-enrolled program at the Grace Hopper Center, Arlington Public Schools, in Arlington, Virginia.

We have an associate degree in computer science program at Arlington Tech that enables highly motivated students to earn their A.S. degree concurrently with their high school diploma. These two courses are taken by our program completers, most of whom are getting this degree.

Part of the challenge of offering the data structures and algorithms course to our graduating seniors is that the shortened schedule (seniors end school a few weeks before everyone else) and many other disruptions and distractions they are subject to make it really hard to do justice to this important and challening curriculum.

Our solution is what we consider to be a pretty clever hack that has worked very well for us. By teaching the vast majority of both courses through an integrated year long course using the historic Altair 8800 computer, first without an operating system at all and then with CP/M, together with BDS C as the programming language, we are able to engage our seniors in an experience that meets all the objectives of both courses within the time we have available. We like to think the experience really helps demystify the computer, leaving them with a deeper understanding of what it is and what it can do.