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Bubble sort: An archaeological algorithmic analysis

Publication ,  Journal Article
Astrachan, O
Published in: SIGCSE Bulletin (Association for Computing Machinery, Special Interest Group on Computer Science Education)
July 17, 2003

Text books, including books for general audiences, invariably mention bubble sort in discussions of elementary sorting algorithms. We trace the history of bubble sort, its popularity, and its endurance in the face of pedagogical assertions that code and algorithmic examples used in early courses should be of high quality and adhere to established best practices. This paper is more an historical analysis than a philosophical treatise for the exclusion of bubble sort from books and courses. However, sentiments for exclusion are supported by Knuth [17], "In short, the bubble sort seems to have nothing to recommend it, except a catchy name and the fact that it leads to some interesting theoretical problems." Although bubble sort may not be a best practice sort, perhaps the weight of history is more than enough to compensate and provide for its longevity.

Duke Scholars

Published In

SIGCSE Bulletin (Association for Computing Machinery, Special Interest Group on Computer Science Education)

ISSN

0097-8418

Publication Date

July 17, 2003

Start / End Page

1 / 5

Related Subject Headings

  • Education
 

Citation

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Astrachan, O. (2003). Bubble sort: An archaeological algorithmic analysis. SIGCSE Bulletin (Association for Computing Machinery, Special Interest Group on Computer Science Education), 1–5.
Astrachan, O. “Bubble sort: An archaeological algorithmic analysis.” SIGCSE Bulletin (Association for Computing Machinery, Special Interest Group on Computer Science Education), July 17, 2003, 1–5.
Astrachan O. Bubble sort: An archaeological algorithmic analysis. SIGCSE Bulletin (Association for Computing Machinery, Special Interest Group on Computer Science Education). 2003 Jul 17;1–5.
Astrachan, O. “Bubble sort: An archaeological algorithmic analysis.” SIGCSE Bulletin (Association for Computing Machinery, Special Interest Group on Computer Science Education), July 2003, pp. 1–5.
Astrachan O. Bubble sort: An archaeological algorithmic analysis. SIGCSE Bulletin (Association for Computing Machinery, Special Interest Group on Computer Science Education). 2003 Jul 17;1–5.

Published In

SIGCSE Bulletin (Association for Computing Machinery, Special Interest Group on Computer Science Education)

ISSN

0097-8418

Publication Date

July 17, 2003

Start / End Page

1 / 5

Related Subject Headings

  • Education