2003-2004 Academic Year

  
Peter Denning
Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA
e-mail: pjd@nps.navy.mil

Great Principles of Computing

The nearly three dozen core technologies of computing sit in a
simple framework defined by great principles and by computing
practices.  The great principles are of two kinds, mechanics and
design.  Computing mechanics comprises computation,
communication, coordination, recollection, and automation.
Design principles address concerns for complexity, resilience,
performance, evolvability, and security.  Practices comprise
programming, systems, modeling, innovating, and applying.  This
framework offers several advantages: understandability of the
computing field; new possibilities for teaching computer
science, including new approaches to programming; attention to
computing practices; public image of computing.  The new CS
curriculum at the Naval Postgraduate School is based on the
framework presented here.

Peter Denning is chairman of computer science at the Naval
Postgraduate School and Director of the Cebrowski Institute
for Information Innovation and Superiority.  He was formerly
chair of computer science at George Mason University.