This introduction to programming places computer science in the core of aliberal arts education. Unlike other introductory books, it focuses on the programdesign process. This approach fosters a variety of skills--critical reading, analytical thinking, creative synthesis, and attention to detail--that are importantfor everyone, not just future computer programmers.The book exposes readers to twofundamentally new ideas. First, it presents program design guidelines that show thereader how to analyze a problem statement; how to formulate concise goals; how tomake up examples; how to develop an outline of the solution, based on the analysis;how to finish the program; and how to test. Each step produces a well-definedintermediate product. Second, the book comes with a novel programming environment, the first one explicitly designed for beginners. The environment grows with thereaders as they master the material in the book until it supports a full-fledgedlanguage for the whole spectrum of programming tasks.All the book's supportmaterials are available for free on the Web. The Web site includes the environment, teacher guides, exercises for all levels, solutions, and additionalprojects.

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