Ask HN: Is computer science a viable field? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: Is computer science a viable field?

#11

Post by culopatin » Thu, Apr 14, 2022, 2:27 PM UTC

Existenceblinks wrote: post #5

Strangely, computer science is best when it's a secondary interest of a person. Based on my observation, people from other fields coming to comsci have created more interesting projects than the one who first entered the field. Of course, except those who invented great programming languages and protocols. On economic level, creativity comes from broad knowledge and perspectives mixed with tech skills. There will def…

I get this. My girlfriend does mocell bio and her project requires her to do some informatics. She’s now into bioinformatics and she starts by already having a problem to solve. Compsci makes you find a problem to use a tool, coming from outside let’s you find the tool for the problem which IMO moves “faster” in the brain.

Re: Ask HN: Is computer science a viable field?

#12

Post by Existenceblinks » Thu, Apr 14, 2022, 3:01 PM UTC

culopatin wrote: post #11

Existenceblinks wrote: post #5

Strangely, computer science is best when it's a secondary interest of a person. Based on my observation, people from other fields coming to comsci have created more interesting projects than the one who first entered the field. Of course, except those who invented great programming languages and protocols. On economic level, creativity comes from broad knowledge and perspectives mixed with tech skills. There will def…

I get this. My girlfriend does mocell bio and her project requires her to do some informatics. She’s now into bioinformatics and she starts by already having a problem to solve. Compsci makes you find a problem to use a tool, coming from outside let’s you find the tool for the problem which IMO moves “faster” in the brain.

Yep. I know a couple friends who've gone from computer stuff to other things and have fun coming back to developing projects again. Many good ideas developers alone couldn't come up with.

Re: Ask HN: Is computer science a viable field?

#13

Post by warrenm » Thu, Apr 14, 2022, 3:27 PM UTC

Nope, sorry

You're about half a century too late for computer science to be a "viable field"

Nobody uses computers any more, they're less and less a part of daily life, there is no room for improvement (because they're on the way out) etc

Hope you find something else to spend your life on!

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{The above is stated firmly tongue-in-cheek}

Re: Ask HN: Is computer science a viable field?

#14

Post by b20000 » Thu, Apr 14, 2022, 3:29 PM UTC

computer scientists are not programmers. programming is an activity that a computer scientist might do but is not necessary to have a CS career.

it is a fact that the industry wants programmers because shit has to be built. so they force everyone into that role if they can. at least that is my view.

i think that you should not get into this just to make money. it is a myth that you just become a programmer and you are guaranteed to get rich. so many people push kids into STEM or tech so they can also get rich just like that guy in the newspaper. a recipe for disappointment.

generally, unless you get really lucky with equity or your own business, i think there are other careers like law, finance or real estate where you can make a lot more money with a lot less intellectual power or effort.