EXHIBIT A


                 RELEVANT SUBSIDIARIES OF PARENT HOLDING COMPANY

PART A: TCW ENTITIES

PARENT HOLDING COMPANY:

              The TCW Group, Inc.

              Robert Day (an individual who may be deemed to 
              control The TCW Group, Inc.)


RELEVANT SUBSIDIARIES THAT ARE PERSONS DESCRIBED IN RULE 13d-1(b):

         (i)  Trust Company of the West, a California corporation and a bank as
         defined in Section 3(a)(6) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. 

Note:         No Common Stock of Programmer's Paradise, Inc. is held directly
              by The TCW Group, Inc.  Other than the indirect holdings of The
              TCW Group, Inc. no Common Stock of Programmer's Paradise, Inc. is
              held directly or indirectly by Robert Day, an individual who may
              be deemed to control The TCW Group, Inc. 
     
PART B: NON TCW ENTITIES

PARENT HOLDING COMPANY:

              Robert Day (an individual who may be deemed to control the holders
              described below which are not subsidiaries of The TCW Group, Inc.)

RELEVANT SUBSIDIARIES THAT ARE PERSONS DESCRIBED IN 
RULE 13d-1(b):

              Oakmont Corporation, a California corporation and an Investment
              Adviser registered under Section 203 of the Investment Advisers 
              Act of 1940.

              Cypress International Partners Limited, a British Virgin Islands
              corporation and an Investment Adviser registered under 
              Section 203 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.
              






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