His emphasis is on problem solving. That's his complaint about having students use Java libraries to build stuff - they don't learn how to solve problems. You

His emphasis is on problem solving. That's his complaint about having students use Java libraries to build stuff - they don't learn how to solve problems. You need algorithms, data structures and theory since it's the language of solving problems, but you also need practice, feedback, and mentoring to get good at programming. He objects to those academics who think programming isn't an essential activity.