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Algorithms

khanacademy.org

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Re: Algorithms

#11

Post by throwaway2016a »

lebanon_tn wrote: post #4
Kimalsi wrote: post #2

as someone who doesn't know much about this and is trying to join the tech community, what will I achieve through this?

Data structures and algorithms are foundational topics in computer science. While they can seem daunting to beginning programmers, they become very important as you progress into writing more advanced programs. Also, the interview process for software engineers at most companies ask about them almost exclusively.

> they become very important as you progress into writing more advanced programs

As someone with a Computer Science degree I can say that the only times I have ever used any of the algorithms I learned directly was when writing low level C and GoLang. I'm willing to bet 90% of programmers... even those that right "advanced" programs do not use them day to day.

Every algorithm and data structure worth anything has been abstracted out into easy to use libraries years ago.

Re: Algorithms

#12

Post by happy-go-lucky »

SEJeff wrote: post #8
Kimalsi wrote: post #2

as someone who doesn't know much about this and is trying to join the tech community, what will I achieve through this?

Datastructures are akin to tools, and Algorithms are like plans. You need to use the tools to implement the plans for building your desired result. Each "tool" you learn inside and out allows you to build something new. The better you learn them, the more you can build.

It's a better explanation than mine.

Re: Algorithms

#15

Post by rajathagasthya »

SEJeff wrote: post #9

For anyone wanting to learn algorithms from one of the other heavyweights, not being a C developer, I found this series extremely beneficial: https://www.amazon.com/Algorithms-Parts-1-4-Fundamentals-Str... It also helps that Robert Sedgewick has been in compsci forever (got hit PHC in 1975) and is one of the subject matter experts in algorithms.

Or the newer book with Java code.

https://www.amazon.com/Algorithms-4th-Robert-Sedgewick/dp/03...

Robert Sedgewick also has fantastic algorithms courses on Coursera.

Re: Algorithms

#16

Post by santaclaus »

hal9000xp wrote: post #10

It's strange they didn't cover dynamic programming at all. IMO every course should include at least one classical example of dynamic programming. For example: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Longest_increasing_subsequence https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Longest_common_subsequence_pro...

They didn't get the memo(ization)...

Re: Algorithms

#17

Post by gspetr »

Kimalsi wrote: post #2

as someone who doesn't know much about this and is trying to join the tech community, what will I achieve through this?

Programming is essentially working with data to solve some kind of real world problem.

When working with algorithms, you’re trying to solve problems efficiently. Your programs should be fast, the wait for a solution should be short.

Re: Algorithms

#18

Post by MaxLeiter »

rajathagasthya wrote: post #15
SEJeff wrote: post #9

For anyone wanting to learn algorithms from one of the other heavyweights, not being a C developer, I found this series extremely beneficial: https://www.amazon.com/Algorithms-Parts-1-4-Fundamentals-Str... It also helps that Robert Sedgewick has been in compsci forever (got hit PHC in 1975) and is one of the subject matter experts in algorithms.

Or the newer book with Java code. https://www.amazon.com/Algorithms-4th-Robert-Sedgewick/dp/03... Robert Sedgewick also has fantastic algorithms courses on Coursera.

My Data Structures & Algorithms class uses this book - it's fantastic. One nitpick is the "EASYQUESTION" sorting visualizations in the book; they aren't too easy to quickly understand (why use letters instead of numbers demonstrating sorting algorithms or trees?

Re: Algorithms

#19

Post by shamino »

rajathagasthya wrote: post #15
SEJeff wrote: post #9

For anyone wanting to learn algorithms from one of the other heavyweights, not being a C developer, I found this series extremely beneficial: https://www.amazon.com/Algorithms-Parts-1-4-Fundamentals-Str... It also helps that Robert Sedgewick has been in compsci forever (got hit PHC in 1975) and is one of the subject matter experts in algorithms.

Or the newer book with Java code. https://www.amazon.com/Algorithms-4th-Robert-Sedgewick/dp/03... Robert Sedgewick also has fantastic algorithms courses on Coursera.

Best book on Algorithms I know of. Extremely pedagogical and clear explanations!

Re: Algorithms

#20

Post by ashark »

throwaway2016a wrote: post #11
lebanon_tn wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Data structures and algorithms are foundational topics in computer science. While they can seem daunting to beginning programmers, they become very important as you progress into writing more advanced programs. Also, the interview process for software engineers at most companies ask about them almost exclusively.

> they become very important as you progress into writing more advanced programs As someone with a Computer Science degree I can say that the only times I have ever used any of the algorithms I learned directly was when writing low level C and GoLang. I'm willing to bet 90% of programmers... even those that right "advanced" programs do not use them day to day. Every algorithm and data structure worth anything has bee…

Any time I make the effort to learn more or brush up on CS fundamentals I end up forgetting most of it in short order because I so rarely use any of it at work.

Ditto mathematics past roughly Algebra 1. Every now and then I try to brush up on calculus or linear algebra or something, but it takes so much time to keep those skills up when you're not using them at work. Like keeping up foreign language skills while living somewhere you rarely encounter native speakers.

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