Ask HN: Going to Grad School, which language/framework should I learn?

#1

Post by kesun421 » Wed, Mar 31, 2010, 6:00 PM UTC

I have been programming in C# for about 4 years at work. I plan to go back to grad school for a masters in CS next year, what language should I learn to help me out with grad school courses?

Update: To be clear, the purpose of going to grad school is to sharpen up and most likely to go back into the workforce later.

Re: Ask HN: Going to Grad School, which language/framework should I learn?

#2

Post by hajrice » Wed, Mar 31, 2010, 6:20 PM UTC

C/C++, Python ?

Re: Ask HN: Going to Grad School, which language/framework should I learn?

#3

Post by keefe » Wed, Mar 31, 2010, 6:21 PM UTC

Grad school is writing and reading papers, not writing code (most of the time). Learn LaTeX and subscribe to ACM digital library and get to reading. You're expected to have programming skills in advance (at least where I went) but you should be language indifferent. Read SICP and learn the basics of C, C++, Java and Python.

Re: Ask HN: Going to Grad School, which language/framework should I learn?

#4

Post by dpritchett » Wed, Mar 31, 2010, 6:22 PM UTC

Clojure:

- Functional programming is sufficiently different from C# to expand your mind in a good way. New paradigms will make you a better programmer even if you stick with C# in the end.

- Open source foundations allow you to get all the tools you need for free.

- Java interoperability gives you access to libraries you'll need for specialized projects.

- Clojure is growing and has an excellent community on Google Groups and on Freenode IRC.

http://clojure.org/

Re: Ask HN: Going to Grad School, which language/framework should I learn?

#5

Post by keefe » Wed, Mar 31, 2010, 6:22 PM UTC

hajrice wrote: post #2

C/C++, Python ?

there are some significant libraries in java, like swarm

Re: Ask HN: Going to Grad School, which language/framework should I learn?

#6

Post by dpritchett » Wed, Mar 31, 2010, 6:25 PM UTC

keefe wrote: post #3

Grad school is writing and reading papers, not writing code (most of the time). Learn LaTeX and subscribe to ACM digital library and get to reading. You're expected to have programming skills in advance (at least where I went) but you should be language indifferent. Read SICP and learn the basics of C, C++, Java and Python.

I'll second this. If you never get into LaTeX (I didn't) you'll always feel vaguely embarassed when showing your .doc thesis alongside the LaTeX formatted papers presented by your peers.

Now that I'm out of school it rarely comes up but while I was working on my Master's it was a constant irritation.

Re: Ask HN: Going to Grad School, which language/framework should I learn?

#7

Post by [deleted] » Wed, Mar 31, 2010, 6:27 PM UTC

[deleted]

Re: Ask HN: Going to Grad School, which language/framework should I learn?

#8

Post by ahi » Wed, Mar 31, 2010, 6:37 PM UTC

You don't say what you are going back to grad school for? Masters in CS?

Re: Ask HN: Going to Grad School, which language/framework should I learn?

#9

Post by kesun421 » Wed, Mar 31, 2010, 6:39 PM UTC

ahi wrote: post #8

You don't say what you are going back to grad school for? Masters in CS?

Sorry, it is a masters in CS, corrected my question.

Re: Ask HN: Going to Grad School, which language/framework should I learn?

#10

Post by leff_f » Wed, Mar 31, 2010, 9:56 PM UTC

If you have 4 years of experience in C#, stick with C#! It will be tough, but most of the people in academic environment don't have professional experience as developers... so you should be ahead of them with your C#.