Foreword for the Student
Welcome. These lecture notes are designed to provide you with a thorough and systematic exploration of the Pascal programming language. Our journey will begin with the foundational principles that make Pascal a cornerstone of computer science education and will progress through to its more advanced, object-oriented capabilities.
Pascal is more than just a historical language; it is an exceptional tool for learning the discipline of structured programming. Its design emphasizes clarity, reliability, and efficiency, making it an ideal environment for mastering fundamental concepts such as data structures, algorithms, and modular design. Pay close attention to the principles of structure and type safety we will discuss; they are not merely rules of a single language, but timeless concepts that separate haphazard coding from disciplined software engineering. By studying Pascal, you are not simply learning a language—you are building a strong theoretical and practical foundation that will serve you throughout your career in computer science.