We define four aspects of programming that all students should master:

Programming in the small

• program synthesis
  • solve small "pattern" problems
  • write programs about 250 lines long
  • recognize common operations
• program analysis
  • use abstract data types
  • identify bugs in a small program and fix them
  • identify the scope of an identifier
  • correlate assignments with potential uses of the value assigned
  • write a conditional dispatch
  • formulate the post-condition of a while loop
  • identify the base and recursive cases of a simple recursion
  • hand simulate a small piece of code

Program design

• select appropriate structure from alternatives
• use a standard structure and adapt it
• evaluate the costs and benefits of using structures and algorithms
• use some sophisticated techniques

Program composition

• define requirements and produce specifications
• knowledge of tools and environments
• higher level programming components
• work in a team

Program assessment

• measures for assessment of programs
• apply the techniques for assessment
• certifying the program quality