Pascal is an influential computer programming language named after the mathematician Blaise Pascal. It was invented by Niklaus Wirth in 1968 as a research project into the nascent field of compiler theory. The backronym PASCAL standing for primary algorithmic scientific commercial application language highlights its suitability for computing tasks in science, making it certainly usable for general programming as well.

Target demographic

Adolescent and adult programming novices

Scope

Standard Pascal (ISO standard 7185) and selected modern extensions.

Description

This books will teach high-level programming, using the programming language Pascal.

Learning objectives

You can analyze trivial to medium difficult programming problems, take general software engineering principles into consideration, and write POC implementations in Pascal using its strengths and knowing its limits. This book will not make a senior-level programmer out of you, but you will definitely pass any college-level introductory CS classes.

Not covered here, but (possibly) in other Wikibooks

Computer architecture, low-level OS interactions, specific usage of high-level libraries such as nCurses.

Guidelines for co‑authors

• American English spelling. Mathematical vocabulary, but explain words if they mean something special in mathematics.
• Use Unextended Pascal, ISO 7185, as your base, and go from there.
• Every example program is regarded and has to be by itself complete.

Responsible authors

These authors ensure the book follow a more or less uniform style and can be read from stem to stern with an acceptable degree of repetition. You are welcome to contribute individual chapters or sections without feeling responsible for the entire book.

• Kai Burghardt (discuss • contribs) 00:00, 11 September 2021 (UTC)
• you??

Structure

See, think, do: Expose the reader to beautiful code and challenge them.

Standard Pascal

• Getting started 👁 50% developed
  
• Beginning Pascal 👁 75% developed
  
• Variables and Constants 👁 75% developed
  
• Input and Output 👁 75% developed
  
• Expressions and Branches 👁 75% developed
  
• Routines 👁 75% developed
  
• Enumerations 👁 100% developed
  
• Sets
• Arrays 👁 100% developed
  
• Strings
• Records 👁 50% developed
  
• Pointers 👁 25% developed
  
• Files
• Scopes

Tutorials, Textbooks, and the like:

• “Learn Pascal tutorial” by Tao Yue
• Doug Cooper: “Oh! Pascal!”
• (available in multiple languages) Marco Cantù: “Essential Pascal” (see § “Getting Essential Pascal“)
• (in German) Delphi Crashkurs

References, Articles on certain topics:

• FreePascal Wiki
• Chapter “Programming” in the “GNU Pascal Manual”