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The purpose of this paper is to indicate something of the nature of "good programming." In this context, programming is taken to mean the entire process of communication between humans and computers. The programming process is sub- divided into nine tasks, and an elementary discussion of each of these tasks is presented. Although the paper is primarily directed to the student or novice programmer, more experienced people may find it a worthwhile aid in codifying or reinforcing their experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents an overview of papers presented in the December 1974 issue of the periodical "acm computing surveys." All papers selected for publication in this issue cover a range of viewpoints about good programming. There is no fixed set of rules according to which clear, understandable and provable programs can be constructed. There are guidelines ofcourse but the individual programmer's style, his clarity of thought and creativity contribute significantly to the outcome. The first two papers in the issue deal with the relationship between better programming and environment.

This paper describes the evolution of language features for multiprogramming from event queues and semaphores to critical regions and monitors. It suggests that the choice of language concepts should be guided by two simple principles: First, it should be possible to understand a concurrent program in time- independent terms by an effort proportional to its size; secondly, it should be possible to state assumptions about invariant relationships among program components and have these assumptions checked automatically. The central problems of multiprogramming are illustrated by annotated algorithms written in a well-structured programming language. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the use of computers in management organizations. It states that computers handle the majority of recording and reporting of routine business transactions for major industrial companies and allow for the application of new management skills. It suggests that problems integrating computers into management can be attributed to inadequate organizational planning. It comments on the natural subdivisions of functional work associated with computer departments, which include systems analysis, computer programming, and computer operations. It suggests that expanding the role of computers in business management may be slowed because of institutional inertia, and states that it is unrealistic to expect rapid changes in organizational structure.

The article comments on the utilization of computers as teaching tools. Every conscientious teacher faces the challenging and formidable task of weighing the relative merits of various teaching techniques for the purpose of deciding how specific aspects of the subject matter might be presented effectively. The opportunities for utilizing computers in research work are widely recognized. An article by James A. Wickman, associate professor of Risk and Insurance at the University of Washington, comments on the potential role of computers in enhancing the teaching effectiveness. His position is that many topics in risk and insurance lend themselves very nicely to the use of high-speed computer equipment, enabling the teacher and student alike to avoid laborious calculations and concentrate instead on the meaning and interpretation of concepts. Further, he argues that one does not have to become a technician in computer programming to use the computers as an aid to teaching. To illustrate his basic theme he describes briefly a program he has developed for communicating effectively to students the formal reasoning behind the common observation that the mortality table portrays a risk converging on a certainty over time.