Outline of Programming in Mathematica

basic concepts

Avoid Procedural Loops
Pattern Matching; using Head and tests
Syntax of = := ==
compound expressions, conditionals
Contexts: local vs. global variables
Control of local values: Module, Block, With
Packages
Anonymous Functions
Iterating a function with Nest and Fold
Compiling functions, and timing
MathLink -- Calling Mathematica from C, and vice versa
Case study: making an iteration map (notebook IterComparisons.nb, 12MB)