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Algorithms

khanacademy.org

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Re: Algorithms

#21

Post by a3n »

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?

At some point the performance of your code (in time and or space) will really matter. Solid knowledge of algorithms and data structures are essential to getting that right.

Early in my career, actually before my career, I taught myself the available language on our department's mini-computer (don't remember the language or the computer), so I could automate parts of my and my colleagues' job.

I had to sort something, and I innocently "invented" bubble sort to do it. The system administrator visited me the day I first ran it, and told me to stop doing that.

Soon after, I quit and went to school. :)

Re: Algorithms

#23

Post by tomwphillips »

This is an excellent course and helped me get my current job.

My background is chemistry/chemical engineering. I had applied for a data scientist position. Phone interview included a problem where I was asked about my solution's complexity. I admitted I didn't know about it.

Still got called back for an interview on site, but the weekend before I powered through this course. Unsurprisingly, it came up in the on-site and they were really pleased I had learnt about it. I got the job.

I also found it useful to implement all the algorithms in Python.

Re: Algorithms

#25

Post by michaelchisari »

tomwphillips wrote: post #23

This is an excellent course and helped me get my current job. My background is chemistry/chemical engineering. I had applied for a data scientist position. Phone interview included a problem where I was asked about my solution's complexity. I admitted I didn't know about it. Still got called back for an interview on site, but the weekend before I powered through this course. Unsurprisingly, it came up in the on-site…

Python is the algorithm king as far as I'm concerned. It really gets out of your way and lets you focus on the abstract nature of what you're trying to accomplish.

Re: Algorithms

#26

Post by stale2002 »

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…

Of course! But how are you going to know WHICH library function to use if you don't know what to look for in the first place?

Knowing that a problem at hand requires a certain solution is important.

Re: Algorithms

#27

Post by imakecomments »

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.

I don't like Sedgewick as much as CLRS. Sedgewick seems to assume knowledge in the physical sciences when explaining examples.

Re: Algorithms

#28

Post by ecnahc515 »

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…

Sure, they'll already exist, but you need to know the performance characteristics of each, so you know when to use one algorithm/data structure vs the alternatives.

Re: Algorithms

#30

Post by stale2002 »

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?

You basically HAVE to learn this stuff, because it is all anyone every asks about in interviews.

So the answer is "you will become good at tech interviews and be able to get a job"

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