Why do universities use Modula-2 for teaching instead of C or C++?
A1. Modula-2 is a type-safe language and its compilers will therefore catch many errors that otherwise show up at run time. While professional programmers need to learn C because it is commonly used, it is important to begin a discipline of deliberate, engineered programming at the outset. Modula-2 is easier to write in, easier to read (it reads left to right) and easier to debug in. It lends itself well to software engineering. Modula-2 is a Higher Level Language than C, particularly with respect to pointers, all of which have types that depend on what is pointed to, and which can be treated as addresses only by flagging this fact in the program code. A2. Popularity no more implies soundness or superiority when considering tools such as Modula-2 and C++ than it does when considering hardware (Pentium vs PowerPC), operating systems (Windows vs Mac) and applications (Word). Marketing means selling the sizzle of appearance not the steak of content; those who know this and can apply it co
